Massive flooding on Thursday night shut down Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International airport today.
Powerful thunderstorms ripped through southern Wisconsin last night bringing floodwaters that covered parts of Mitchell’s airfield and roadways leading to the airport. At one point, the waters reached outdoor ticketing and baggage claim areas.
The airport was closed around 9:30 p.m. after a tornado warning issued earlier in the evening forced air traffic controllers to evacuate the control tower.
Air traffic controllers were eventually allowed to return an hour later, but flooding eventually forced airport officials to close the airport and cancel dozens of flights.
Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International is handles nearly 8 million passengers a year, so the shut down has stranded hundreds of travelers.
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Frontier Airlines and AirTran Airways, two of the most prominent carriers at Mitchell, have both announced that they would waive fees for ticket changes.
AirTran Airways has promised passengers scheduled to fly to or from Milwaukee today that they may change their reservation without penalty. The travel, however, must be made within five days from the original departure date.
Meanwhile, Frontier Airlines has told passengers with flights on Friday that they can change their itinerary without the usual fee. Any changes must be made by midnight Saturday and travel must be finished by August 6.
As of today, the flooding and a giant 40-foot sinkhole that resulted from the flooding have pushed Governor Jim Doyle to declare a state of emergency in Milwaukee County. Doyle is said to be petitioning President Barack Obama for federal aid.
There have been no reported deaths, but two people were hospitalized after being struck by lightning, authorities said.
Officials at General Mitchell International are hoping to clear the runway of water and debris; however, a new storm heading to Milwaukee today might complicate their plans. Currently, only one runway is in use.
By Adriana Padilla for PeterGreenberg.com.
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