FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) – Over a hundred people in Fond du Lac have been evacuated due to flooding conditions that started on Thursday.
The culprit was the Fond du Lac River, which continued to rise due to ice jams.
Water rescues took place mainly in the central part of the city.
The Fond du Lac Fire Department has also been evacuating people who live along the river.
Fond du Lac resident Taylor Hooson and her family needed some help from a neighbor to stay safe through it all.
“We went on to our balcony and then Jenny pulled us over her rail on to her balcony and then they put the kids in the Bobcat,” says Hooson. “And then we got out.”
Many homeowners encountered a number of problems due to the rising water.
Tremayle Eurby was one of the many in shock.
“It’s a tragedy,” he says. “I lost everything I had in the basement; clothes, washer, dryer, everything.”
For those tasked with battling the rising water, they say it has been a challenge.
Troy Haase is the Fond du Lac Fire Chief and says crews have been attempting to remove ice chunks from the river in the hopes that the water will recede.
“I just think with a lot of rain and the thawing it’s just moving faster than we can get it done,” he explains.
The ice chunk removal process is being centered around the bridge on Western Avenue.
Adding to the difficulties is that the water doesn’t have anywhere to go, because of the ice dam.
“So even if it moves out there it’s not going to go anywhere, because the [river’s] mouth is full of ice still,” he says.
There is also spotty flooding in the northeast part of the city.
On Western Avenue, the Riverview Apartments were evacuated.
The flooding conditions forced gas and electricity to be turned off in the area.
In order to help those that were evacuated the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds and Expo Center was opened by Red Cross volunteers.
Buses transported individuals to the shelter and food was provided.
The Fond du Lac city council candidate forum, originally scheduled for Thursday evening, was postponed due to the flooding.
The council hopes to announce an update soon on a rescheduled time.
Anyone in need of more help or assistance in the area is being instructed to call 211.
