GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Emergency crews are taking action as waters are starting to rise.
Outagamie County Emergency Management is telling residents to be prepared for spring flooding.
Basement flooding is being reported in various municipalities. Paula Rieder, Deputy Emergency Management Director says right now, the water has nowhere to go.
“We are working closely with them and some departments are being a little proactive, they don’t have any issues yet but they are preparing sandbags and getting ready.”
That is the case in Shiocton.
Some residents in Shiocton are getting nervous about standing water and Village is starting the help process.
“We have had some requests for some sandbags so we just wanted to be prepared”, said Butch Bunnell, Shiocton Fire Chief.
Shiocton started making sandbags available at the Fire Hall Thursday evening.
“Some people in the outlining rural areas have their fields flooded and the water is getting pretty close to their homes,” Bunnell added. “So what I want to do is get ahead of the program.
Bunnell says he is concerned about the more melting over the weekend.
In the meantime residents are clearing gutters and storm drains and whatever it takes to keep the water away from the house.
“Some people are trenching the snow so that the water has a place to run away from their foundation,” Reider said.
The county has also started its response approach.
“A lot of our local municipalities are out checking local streets and roads and if there is any water covering any of those roads, they are barricading those.”
Outagamie County is not the only one seeing results of melting snow.
The Department of Natural Resources is also warning of contaminated wells from the melting snow.
Warming temperatures, snowmelt, rain and lingering frozen ground can create conditions that may affect private wells and drinking water.
“Our recent rain, mixed precipitation and local flooding throughout the state is a reminder that changing spring weather can lead to well contamination,” said Liesa Lehmann, DNR private water section chief. “At this time of year, we encourage well owners to watch for signs of flooding and note any change in the color, smell or taste of their drinking water.”
Owners who see flood waters very near or over their wells should assume their drinking water could be contaminated.
It is recommended to stop drinking the water and find another safe source, Once the waters recede, make sure the well is properly disinfected and before drinking the water again, sample the well to assure the water is safe.
