No, when I called them back they told me it was Madison. I'm sure there probably is this address in Chicago also, but it is not the one they are referring to wanting the donations.

JohnDoe, it's in Chicago.

SK...Where is 630 E. Washington Ave.?

It is something in the water that bring's the people down town to see the water,with all the sewage in the water and the janesville people let their kids play in it, stay away from the river and if you are in the water near a high lvel of running water chance's are you will get pulled in and drown.

Thank you, Gina!

I just can't figure out what is wrong with people. You could put the warning in the biggest brightest bold print to stay out of the water & some people are going to do it anyways.
I don't understand that when it rains hard & there are huge puddles everywhere people don't take their kids out to play in them. But take a river full of E. Coli, raw sewage & bacteria and they turn it into a family outing.
I keep saying the same thing...WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE !!

We live across from the river downtown and the people drawn here is amazing all night long people are down here. I feel there needs to be signs posted all over that children should not be in the water because of all the bacteria and raw sewage. I walked my dog downtown last night and kids were playing behind riverside restaurant in the water. I even said to the parents that they should not be in there because of all the raw sewage coming down from Jefferson and Fort and they have a chance of getting very sick. The mom was understanding, but the dad just looked at me like an idiot. When your kids get sick and it is from the river, then I guess it is your own fault. Of all the years I grew up here and then bought the house here, I have never been able to see the river running from my front door. and to see it is mind blowing. So if you are reading this KEEP YOUR KIDS AWAY FROM THE WATER THEY CAN LOOK BUT TELL THEM NOT TO TOUCH!!!!!!!!!!! JUST LIKE IN THE STORE.

I found out the Salvation Army is needing donations of diapers, underwear, socks, formula & towels. They can be dropped off at 630 E. Washington Ave. in Janesville.
Let's all do our part to help our neighbors out.

prevention: A state of flood emergency has been issued in the city and other parts of the county. City officials said that's one of the first steps to being declared a disaster area. FEMA officials are touring the county/city this morning to determine whether the area will attain that declaration.
Gina Duwe, reporter

I am amazed at the people who are making comments about the people being downtown and taking pictures. The news has been full of the fact that this is such an historical event. Why wouldn't people want to come and check it out? We did last weekend. We were very conscious of the fact to stay away from any people running sump pumps or areas roped off. We also walked around a lot of downtown and saw stores and restaurants that we had heard of but weren't quite sure where they were. We talked to others that were also out walking, and it reminded me of Friday nights in downtown Janesville when I was a kid. It was nice to see people out walking and visiting instead of driving thru with the windows rolled up, talking on their cells. It is also a lot safer to come and check things out from the bridges than to go to some of these flooded areas and cause more problems for any flooded residents. I lost my house once too and am fully aware of how it feels to have people driving by and gawking at your loss. So we went to the bridges. Ease up on people that just want to get a glimpse of what Mother Nature is capable of doing. By the way, I am physically unable to fill sandbags, I sent a check to the Red Cross-they are wonderful people and know where to put the money to the best use.

It would be a plus if the parking ramp washed away.

I'm still waiting for the parking lot over the river to be washed downstream. What is happening with the elderly and disabled residents who live in the apartments on the river? I'm sure they're semi-flooded by now.
The worst of this has yet to come, and the people who eat from the river to survive are going to have more problems than they bargained for.
-----------------------------------------------Also, when paving and buildings take the place of natural flood buffer zones, the floods are more devistating and have more severe outcomes. One of the first steps to recovery in a flood is to RELOCATE businesses and homes AWAY from the floodplain, and don't rebuild there. It may seem outrageous, but it's more logical and cost effective to relocate.

Can someone explain to me when an area can be declared a disaster area? I am assuming that Rock County may be in the next one or two declarations. Again, I am only assuming!

Thanks Hannah, for the Jefferson pictures. I lived there for awhile and I'm sure my old home is underwater.

Thanks for all your input about pictures! :)

I have two words for the "parents" letting their kids play in or near the river...natural selection.

The people up fishing by the Indianford dam forgot to pickup their free dose of common sense also. I'm amazed at them standing so close to the edge to catch a fish.
Are they blind to how strong the current is?
Do they not care that if they fall in someone else has to risk their life to save them because of their stupidity?
Have they not heard over and over that there is raw sewage in the river. How badly do they want a fish dinner ~ HELLO!!
Put the fishing pole down & watch from a distance!!
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It is the parents responsibility to watch their children and teach them ~ not the police.
What is wrong with people!
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And good luck to all those people flooded. My heart goes out to you.

Yes, the police are monitoring the river edges. Yet, how can the police monitor 60,000+ people who are intrigued by the river levels?

Westside, you are absolutely correct in that parents need to be setting the positive example. Apparently, some of those parents missed that day when Common Sense was being handed out-for FREE!

Forget making the GM campus into an auto museum. Make it into a museum for the Great Flood of 2008. Developers could even make it a complete tourist attraction with a water ride; similar to a lazy river, affectionately named the Rising Rock. Heck, make the Rising River go right through the "museum" for added ambiance.
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In all seriousness, this is really sad and unfortunate. I hope the river crests and ALL flooded areas are able to rebuild and have a casualty free catastrophe.

soside- No I do not have children yet...someday someday.. but I do have NUMEROUS neices and nephews. How come?

I have to admit, I want to go look at the flooding water too. It really is amazing stuff....I'm originally from Jefferson....my parents are having quite the time (limited flushing of toilets, limited use of water to do laundry, etc). They are fine where they live but it all depends on what side of town you live on because the bridges are all closed! People in Jefferson were out taking pictures too, so whomever was blasting people for watching instead of sandbagging, don't worry about it. We could all be doing that instead of sitting here on the computer. I'm just hoping I'll be able to get to Milwaukee next weekend so I can fly right out of here!!!!

Normal-do you mean to be blogging on a gm article or a waterpark article?

I deliver pizzas here in Jaesville and my only request is that people quit stopping in mid traffic to point and look. It's going to cause an accident.

The addition of a waterpark would be great in Janesville! I was a kid when Rockford built theirs (wasn't a huge hit right away, before it's time?) They sold it to the Park District, and they had a few rough years. Now, with the gas prices the way they are, people NEED LOCAL attractions. It will NOT be a replacement for GM. It would take time. It will NOT stand alone. It is a start. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX! More ideas (diverse ideas) are needed to bring this town back up! It will take time, but I think Janesville can do it (as much as I dislike this town for personal reasons). ALL public input and ideas are needed. It is supposed to be a community, then act like one! I used to be an autoworker (2 times). Instead of running them down for being overpaid (which they are [NO OFFENSE!!]. EVERYONE NEEDS TO WORK TOGETHER!!! Life is not easy outside the plant, and is actually worse than when I made my break from the auto industry. We are ALL in this together. I'm just gonna stop there.

westside~NO "pun", I suppose you could say, intended! ;)

Hey westside~Do you have children?

I wish I wasn't serious. When I say walking the retaining wall (I may not be using the right terminology for it, but it holds the river in), I mean some kids were doing balancing acts on it as if on a tightrope. I kept envisioning a little kid falling in and getting washed downstream. I went to the library to study for an upcoming test I have to take and I watched it firsthand all day. I sat at the window by the river. The city does have some barriers and tape up near the library, but the main retaining wall extends past them. I did see police there Friday, but none today. The library WAS open. It looks closed because there is no parking at the lower level (due to flooding). However, you can park at the other lot and enter through the main door.

Unidentified- are you serious? shame on parents and their stupidity. i thought the police were supposed to be monitoring the area

I was at the Library today and watched countless kids, often times with their parents, walking on top of the retaining wall right next to the river. It would not take much for someone to fall in and the river is moving extremely fast. As a result, if someone did fall in it would be extraordinarily hard for rescue workers to save someone. I urge parents who live near the river to talk to their children. Additionally, parents should be smart enough not to walk on a narrow retaining wall with their children when the river is less than a foot from the wall and is in record flood stages.

P.S. I would be sandbagging too if I didn't have a bad back that prevents me from heavy work, but I am finding out other ways to help those that are affected or is it effected? (LOL sorry I don't want the grammer police after me) and yes please stay safe everybody and look from afar. Especially the kids, the water is fast moving, dangerous and may contain god knows what. I would hate to see anyone get hurt or swept away and drown.

Wow this sure has been an interesting year for weather. My 11 year old daughter will have lots of good stories to tell her children and grandchildren one day. We too have been out taking in the sites of the flooding in our neighborhood.

Just think from January's frozen river and ice jams that flooded S. River Rd (we live a block a way up hill thank goodness) to the record 20" of snowfall and now this 100 year flood, and the dissappearance of Lake Delton. my daughter is just amazed by all of it. She is hoping for Wisconsin to be featured on the weather channels storm stories. And she can't wait to grow up and become a meteorologist and report on such stories.

What a terribly awsome site to see and live through this year, yes it is history in the making that will be talked about for a very long time.

My only question is what's in store for us next?

And, yes i was down there sandbagging, asking to help everywhere i could think of between the Job Center and downtown.

yes, mooshoo, that may be correct, but as they observe this "historic event," they could stop and, at least, offer to help sandbag or see what other kinds of things may need to be done.

be constructive with the energy exerted to go down to the river and help some of the businesses and residents who are at danger of loosing everything!

for the businesses, this means their livelihood! for the residents, this may mean they become homeless if they loose their homes/apartments, etc.

please try to be empathetic to those being directly affected by these storms and rising river levels.

I do not find in surprising that people are flocking dowmtown to see the flood. It is an impressive and scary sight. Water is at unprecedented levels. There is no one alive today who has ever seen water this high on the Rock. The little kids will be talking about this event 75 years from now.

jenndood: Here's the Gazette's photo gallery of flooding: http://gazettextra.com/photos/galleries/.... Also, readers can view and submit their photos to our community gallery here: http://www.gazettextra.com/photos/galler.... Enjoy!
Gina Duwe, Reporter

You're welcome, jtmek! Check back later today, I'll have more.

janesvillean, thank you for the great job you did with the pictures!

I cruised down down by the river on my mountain bike last night. TONS of people down at Monterey Park just checking out the damn, the high waters, and flooding all around there. The Van Galder bus lot is pretty much under water! All sorts of people were snapping photos down there, like it was some tourist attraction! The park service blocked off many of the bike/walk paths, but you can still go through them if your feeling adventurous! The water is not flooded over to bad till you get out past Degussa, and the trail along the train tracks. Thats about where my adventurousness came to a stop!

Until the Gazette gets more photos of its own up, here's my Flickr photoset:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/45914503@N0...

I'm from Janesville, but live across the state now. I'm very curious to see of this downtown, but seems the Gazette isn't posting much pictures - any ideas of where to see some?? :)

If gas wasn't $4 a gallon, I'd think about driving the 6-hour drive to check it out myself!! :)

Terrific! Tourists welcome Saturday morning at the Janesville Farmer's Market where there are also lots of photo opportunities like the colorful vendor items for sale, the Worldwide Knit in Public Day celebration (www.wwkipday.com), and the UAA performing artists. Come on down to see the river. Then...check out the great things you'll be able to see, do,and learn about at the Farmer's Market (8am-1pm)!

This practice doesn’t differ much from the people who hear tornado sirens and then run outside to see if one is in view. There is a certain adrenalin rush that comes from seeing something dangerous up close. I also think nature in its most extreme is always fascinating. It amazes me how things can go from calm to extreme with just a few storms. In addition, if you can’t enjoy good weather (since we haven’t as much of it recently), people probably figure they’ll enjoy the bad weather. I agree with your perspective though, people still need to be careful not to become part of the story.

Everybody hates a tourist, heh.
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Yeah, I've been doing this, and the funny thing is I've run into more than one person more than once doing the same thing. My excuse is a new digital camera, but people are doing that, too (I couldn't back out of my parking space at the library because a guy was "chimping" his photos -- standing there reviewing them on his camera).
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Even when I consider that I know we'll never see anything as bad as Gays Mills or Cedar Rapids (the river geography here has such a steep fall -- the reason Janesville was situated here for the water power -- and favorable open conditions on the south of town), this will still be as bad as it's ever been during my lifetime.

I'm guilty. I just returned from a photography outing downtown near the river. It is amazing.

The last time I saw flooding like this, I was about 12 years old. Lincoln Creek through my neighborhood in Milwaukee flooded, and we had water four to six feet high in the street. My little brother and I played in it until it got too dangerous. At the same time, my family lost everything we had in our basement. And that wasn't the first time it happened; our basement flooded once or twice more after that in subsequent years.
The power of water is incredible.

Around 1am on my way home from work, after giving radio reports about the flooding and writing my stories about areas that could be breached, I decided to check it out. I was amazed to see how many people were driving around in the thunderstorm and stopping by the river to check the levels.