OCONTO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The light of day continues to show astonishing damage from heavy rains Thursday afternoon and evening in Oconto County.
Many roads and ATV trails are washed out as a result of the downpours that sat over the county in the afternoon and evening hours.
A sheriff’s deputy and police dog were in the middle of the situation Thursday night. They were on their way to help with a vehicle that had been hit by a tree when a section of Highway A washed out, nearly swallowing the squad vehicle. The deputy and dog were able to get out of the vehicle safely.
On Friday, the power of the water was on full display at the location. Crumbled concrete sat around rushing water as a small culvert pipe was surrounded by damage.
Meanwhile, near Lena, fields and yards were flooded from the rains.
Public health officials urged people whose private wells may have been impacted by the flooding to take safety measures. They warn not to use well water for cooking, drinking, bathing or handwashing. Instead, use water from safe sources such as bottled water, tap water that has been boiled for one minute or water from a well that was not flooded.
Similar scenes were on display throughout the county as people cleaned up from the storms Friday.
Jenna Holl lives on nearly 7 acres of land in Oconto County.
Her property is almost all underwater.
“I’ve never seen water this deep. We got a creek running down that way but it’s never flooded. I went to go save some pallets and stuff and I’m about belly-button deep at 5 foot 5,” Holl said.
Holl is trying to salvage what she can from her yard.
“Right now we’re trying to save our trailers and anything that we can since apparently we don’t have flood insurance. It’s going to be a rough one. But so far the house is safe,” Holl said.
Just down the road from Holl, the driveway to Bob Olson’s home and business, the River Road Kennels, is flooded too.
“We came down here, checked the driveway and stuff and the water was across our driveway, water across the bridge and stuff, so we were worried about customers coming in with the water and stuff so I flagged my driveway so they could stay on the blacktop when they came in here,” Olson said.
Olson has lived on the property for 20 years.
He says he’s never seen the water this high.
Residents say they’re trying to figure out what to do next.
“We’re just going to save our property the best we can. Move the trailers, we got the tractor out there moving trailers right now, and we’re just figuring it out,” Holl said.
“Usually after rain, a day or two it piques up, and then it starts to recede and the water line goes down. So that’s what we’re kind of hoping for and praying for,” Olson said.
“It’s pretty hard that we have to deal with this. Didn’t think it would happen up here,” Holl said.
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