LAKE DELTON, Wis. -- A swollen Lake Delton washed a path of destruction through portions of the Wisconsin Dells area on Monday as flood waters rose above the lake's banks, cut through a portion of a nearby highway and destroyed adjacent homes before flowing into the Wisconsin River.

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Authorities said that this weekend's torrential rain and widespread flooding caused the 245-acre lake to flow above its southern banks in the popular resort town.

At least four Sauk County homes were washed away as Lake Delton overflowed and washed across portions of County Highway A into the Wisconsin River on Monday morning. About 80 percent of the lake has washed down the river, WISC-TV reported.

The rush of water tore a gash through the highway about 100 to 200 feet wide and 50 feet deep. The road separates the lake from the river, WISC-TV reported.

The lake emptied into an almost barren bed. Lake Delton village trustee Thomas Diehl said that the lake is now dry.

County emergency management director Jeff Jelinek said that Dell Creek Dam on Lake Delton is overtopping, but is still holding. The water has swelled and is flowing into the river.

Officials with the state's Department of Natural Resources said that the lake drained into the Wisconsin River after a highway embankment failed and water poured out of the lake, essentially emptying it.

Officials said that the rushing water wasn't caused by the dam's failure, but rather the area is low-lying and has been inundated by recent rains.

On Sunday night, authorities ordered evacuations and began sandbagging as rivers and lakes rose, jeopardizing dams throughout southern Wisconsin. Diehl said that about 100 people started sandbagging at 2 a.m. but it didn't work.

State authorities were inspecting dams and waterways throughout the state on Monday and residents were put on alert.

Doyle Vows To Refill Popular Lake

Touring the disaster scene on Monday afternoon, Gov. Jim Doyle said that the lake is crucial to the $1 billion annual tourism industry in nearby Wisconsin Dells. He said that the state will go to work immediately to figure out how to replenish the lake.

He expects a decision to be made in the next day or so.

This lake is known as the home of "The Tommy Barlett Show," which is one of the most popular attractions in the Wisconsin Dells area. Organizers said that they planned to hold the show again on Thursday.

Area Residents Express Shock About Lake's Disappearance

People from all over the area came by to look and see it for themselves. In a matter of hours, residents and business owners along Lake Delton, stood and watched their homes and business drain away, WISC-TV reported.

Tina and Tom Pekar, retired owners of homes ripped apart by a swollen Lake Delton, said that they couldn't believe what they were seeing. In a few seconds, their dream home was devoured by the flood waters running out of control.

The Pekars said that they're in shock and so are several of their neighbors. They watched their 3-year-old retirement home crack in two.

"It's surreal," Tina Pekar said. "We can't even believe it yet, you know. It just doesn't feel real."

Tina Pekar said that she has no insurance.

"Everything, everything we own is there," she said. "We were concerned about flooding and they said that that would never happen. It's never happened and that we have control on both ends of the lake."

Dione Leonhardt, co-owner of the River's Edge Resort, said that she saw the deluge.

"It looked like a giant waterslide, but it was just coming from so fast around that bend. It was just amazing," Leonhardt said.

Bill Pettit has owned the Delton Oaks Resort on the lake for 12 years. He said he watched the embankment wash away and saw the flood water push a two-story lakefront house into the lake. It quickly disappeared under the rushing water.

Shortly after, he saw the foundation of two other lakefront houses wash away, leaving the houses in rubble.

He said that his 30-unit resort is out of business. It's been in operation since 1948.

He's been calling summer vacationers to alert them that the lake is gone and that boating and fishing won't be possible.

Authorities Monitor Nearby Mirror Lake

Neighboring Mirror Lake also had reports of possible structural damage, but Sauk County emergency management officials had several state Department of Natural Resources engineers check the dam. They said that it's in good standing.

Emergency officials were put on alert when water began flowing on top of the dam and to its sides, possibly leading to structural damage to the dam.

The fast-moving water also attracted many onlookers. Lake Delton resident Kim Johnson said that she came to see the dam.

"It's high, it's full, I don't know," she said. "Already got rid of one lake, don't need to get rid of another one."

Emergency Management director Jeff Jelinek said that engineers are confident the Mirror Lake Dam is in good standing and water will begin receding behind the dam.

Work Crews Seek To Restore Services

Alliant Energy crews worked in the Lake Delton area all day restoring power for the sewer system.

Gas mains were also broken, but luckily ended up being capped in time so gas didn't leak, officials said.

There were also unconfirmed reports of phone service outages in the Dells area on Monday night, WISC-TV reported.

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