Three people lost their lives and seven more were rescued Friday after a boat overturned on Geneva Lake during a powerful storm that tore through southern Wisconsin, according to a county official.
Tom Hausner, undersheriff for the Walworth County Sheriff’s Department, said the storm caused widespread damage across Walworth County — toppling trees, bringing down power lines, and damaging buildings. He added that many injuries were reported throughout the area.
Hausner said he did not have further details about those who died or the people who were rescued from the water.
Law enforcement in the city of Lake Geneva has taken over the investigation, Hausner said. Officials there did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Lake Geneva Mayor Todd Krause declared a local emergency following the storm. In a statement, he noted that one person suffered minor injuries after being struck by a falling tree, and that several parts of the city were dealing with power outages.
Hausner said the county’s 911 center was flooded with calls from residents reporting storm damage, people trapped inside buildings, and requests for assistance. He said deputies moved quickly to respond, but were slowed down by downed power lines and trees blocking roads throughout the area.
“Power lines are all over the place. We are urging people to stay away,” Hausner said.
He said his department reached out to neighboring counties and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for additional support.
Geneva Lake is a popular summer destination in southern Wisconsin, drawing visitors from the Chicago area and beyond. According to Hausner, the population of Walworth County — where the lake sits — nearly doubles on holiday weekends.
The storms, which moved through the Midwest on Friday afternoon and evening, forced multiple cities to cancel Fourth of July festivals and push back scheduled fireworks displays.
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Lake Geneva area, forecasting heavy rain Friday with showers expected to linger into Independence Day and a continued chance of storms throughout the weekend.
