OMRO, WI (WTAQ) – A flood warning is currently in place for the Fox River in Omro.
Many residents are filling sandbags and protecting their homes as flooding has shut down parts of Highway 21.
The Omro Police Department made the call to close the highway in downtown Omro as flooding conditions grew severe and started to spread into the east side of town.
A detour is currently set up on State Highway 116 to County Road Tk E to County Road Tk FF back to State Highway 21.
One resident filling up and loading a number of sandbags is Dylan Drake.
“Loading them in the truck is probably the worst part, in my opinion,” says Drake. “I’m not going to make my mom or dad lift them all up.”
Another resident, Bob Walther, says he’s seen this before, but only one other time.
“I moved into Omro back in 1968 and this is the second time since then that the water’s been this high,” says Walther.
Omro Police Chief, Joe Schuster, says 2000 was the last time that Highway 21 flooded.
“We did our best to prevent that using pumps, but that effort failed and we couldn’t keep up with the water, so [we] decided to close the highway,” explains Schuster.
For now, residents are turning to sandbags to protect their property.
“We have Department of Corrections coming in, they’ll help fill sandbags. Those sandbags will be available on the west end on Main Street,” he says.
According to Chief Schuster, 5,000 bags will be filled in addition to the several hundred others already used.
Most residents are remaining positive through it all.
“The whole city, particular this neighborhood, everybody helps everybody,” says Walther.
Sandbags are available for Omro residents and the surrounding townships at 331 West Main Street.
The Omro Police Department reminds motorists to not attempt to drive through standing water and instead turn around and find a different route.
