U.S. midsection begins flood cleanup

MILWAUKEE, June 10 (UPI) -- Residents in the waterlogged midsection of the United States began mop-up operations from deadly storms that officials said claimed 10 lives.

In southern Wisconsin, rivers and streams overflowed their banks, forcing evacuations and school cancellations and closing roads and bridges, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Tuesday.

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle declared a state of emergency for 30 counties. The National Weather Service reported most of the state's major rivers were at or near flood stage. Upward of 10 inches of rain slammed some portions of the state during the weekend.

One resort, Lake Delton, Wis., lost its lake. The waters rose Monday and then carved a hole in a county road, allowing the lake to drain into the Wisconsin River, WKOW reported. Refilling the lake is expected to take a while.

"Permanently you are looking at a year," said Police Chief Tom Dorner. "It's not going to be something that is going to be done this summer."

Four deaths have been blamed on flooding in Indiana and six in Michigan.

Residents near Indianapolis began cleanup operations while others downstream braced for a surge of water in the East and West Forks of the White River, The Indianapolis Star reported Tuesday. State disaster response officials directed sandbagging operations -- with crews of U.S. Marines, National Guard, Amish, Mennonites and felons -- Monday to shore up levees in southwestern portions of the state.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels postponed a trade trip to Japan to monitor the flood response.