State Of Emergency Declared In Racine Over Shoreline Damage

RACINE, WI — Racine Mayor Cory Mason has issued an emergency declaration after weekend storms caused significant damage to Racine's shoreline. An emergency declaration positions the City of Racine to be able to ask for state and federal assistance.

Observers say extreme offshore-sustained wind speeds and gusts in excess of 50 mile per hour, coupled with at or near record all-time high water elevations on Lake Michigan for the past year, created an unprecedented event along the shoreline in the City of Racine.

City officials said failures and breaches exist along both protected and unprotected shorelines in various City of Racine parks as well as failures to storm water outfall infrastructure located at various points along Lake Michigan.

Significant damage has been reported in the areas along: Pershing Park, Carre-Hogle Park, North Beach, and Zoo Beach, and the bluffs near the north end of Racine Zoological Gardens.

"I find that the damages extant and potential for disaster existing requires extraordinary measures to protect the health, well-being, and safety of the people and property within the City of Racine and request the State’s assistance," Mason said in a news release.