Current:Home > NewsWisconsin dam fails as water flows over top, residents urged to seek high ground -BeyondProfit Compass
Wisconsin dam fails as water flows over top, residents urged to seek high ground
View
Date:2025-04-15 14:32:07
Flash flood warnings have been issued for parts of central Wisconsin and evacuations are underway as water has overflown the Manawa dam in Waupaca County, a surge National Weather Service officials consider a dam failure.
Major flooding is expected downstream from the dam and the Little Wolf River in Waupaca, where the NWS issued flash flood warnings until 9:30 p.m. All entrances to Manawa, the dam's namesake city with a population of roughly 1,400, are blocked, according to a post on the city's Facebook page.
Additional warnings were issued for Outagamie County, where officials in the city of Appleton launched emergency boats to rescue residents from flooded homes. A flood watch was issued for the city of Green Bay.
The NWS is urging residents to move to higher ground. Weather officials said there were no injuries related to the flooding as of 3 p.m. local time.
Witness describes rushing floodwater in Manawa
Ian Corkhill was driving his Silverado north of Manawa Friday morning when he came across “major flooding” and a stuck Chevorlet Trailblazer.
“The water was running,” Corkhill said. “It wasn’t just like a stationary flood. You could tell that it was rushing water.”
Many vehicles pulled off into a nearby church parking lot, he said, and traffic was backing up.
“I was just hoping that people in smaller cars would not try and go through there,” he said. “I couldn’t tell obviously how deep the water was. But, I could tell it was up to the doors on some of those cars, so that’s probably, I would say, 3-feet deep.”
Corkhill saw two more cars get stuck in the floodwaters amid the "torrential" rain.
“I could feel like the rain moving my truck,” he said. “It was pretty nerve-wracking.”
Flooding started at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Manawa dam fails
Between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Friday, the northwest side of Manawa received 5.6 inches of rain, according to Kurt Kotenderg, a meteorologist for NWS of Green Bay. Outagamie County also saw 2 to 3 inches of rain this morning until around noon and is expecting 1 to 1½ inches of rain to yet fall.
According to the city of Manawa Facebook page, vehicles are being flooded on the roads around the city. Citizens have been urged to avoid driving in the area.
"Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles," the U.S. National Weather Service in Green Bay advised.
The city of Manawa's Facebook page also reported that the Manawa dam has faced major damage, but isn't completely broken. NWS explained to the Post-Crescent newspaper that the dam has been over-topped, meaning there is so much water that it is going over the dam. This is deemed a dam failure.
The flooding has caused the cancellation of the second day of Mid-Western Rodeo, which started yesterday and was slated to wrap up Sunday. The rodeo's Facebook page announced that all performances for the weekend would be cancelled due to the flooding.
The Manawa police department released a press release, saying the land near the dam was eroding when first responders arrived, which started evacuation down the river.
Contributing by Rashad Alexander of the Post Crescent, part of the USA TODAY network.
veryGood! (417)
Related
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- Save 50% on Thousands of Target Items, 70% on Kate Spade, 70% on Gap, 60% on J.Crew & Memorial Day Deals
- Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck's daughter Violet graduates: See the emotional reaction
- DOJ sues Oklahoma over new law setting state penalties for those living in the US illegally
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- Jason Momoa seemingly debuts relationship with 'Hit Man' star Adria Arjona: 'Mi amor'
- Palace Shares Update on Kate Middleton's Return to Work After Cancer Diagnosis
- Sienna Miller’s Daughter Marlowe Makes Red Carpet Debut Alongside Mom at Cannes Film Festival
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- Arizona grad student accused of killing professor in 2022 had planned the crime, prosecutor says
Ranking
- Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
- Can candy, syrup and feelings make the Grandma McFlurry at McDonald's a summer standout?
- NRA names new leadership to replace former CEO found liable for wrongly spending millions
- 49-year-old California man collapses, dies while hiking on Mount Shasta, police say
- Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
- They couldn't move their hands for years. A new device offers the promise of mobility.
- Phillies star Bryce Harper helps New Jersey teen score date to prom
- Wegovy, Saxenda study reveals surprising trend for weight loss drugs
Recommendation
Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
Michigan county refused to certify vote, prompting fears of a growing election threat this fall
Sean 'Diddy' Combs owned up to violent assault of Cassie caught on video. Should he have?
Connecticut’s first Black chief justice, Richard A. Robinson, to retire in September
'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
They couldn't move their hands for years. A new device offers the promise of mobility.
Max the cat receives honorary doctorate in 'litter-ature’ from Vermont university
Connecticut’s top public defender could be fired as panel mulls punishment for alleged misconduct