Germantown ratifies state of emergency after historic rainfall; officials outline rescue, pumping and damage estimates

The Germantown Village Board on Monday ratified a proclamation declaring a state of emergency after a historic rainfall and ensuing floods that officials said dropped about 10.5 inches of rain on parts of the village and triggered evacuations, rescues and prolonged pumping operations.

Village President Soderbergh opened the meeting by describing “historic rainfall and subsequent flooding” that impacted the community over several days and praised emergency responders and mutual‑aid partners for the response and recovery work. The board unanimously approved a resolution ratifying the emergency declaration, a procedural step required by state statute after an executive declares an emergency.

The board then received a joint briefing from police, fire, public works and the sewer utility about the event and the response. Police Chief Martin reported the department received 237 total calls during the incident, 92 of which were weather related, and described rescues of motorists and a case in which an officer helped a resident in labor get to a hospital when other mutual‑aid resources did not arrive. Fire and emergency personnel evacuated residents in the Rivers Bend neighborhood, and the departments reported one confirmed fatality tied to a suspected carbon monoxide incident.

Tim Z…