SHIOCTON, Wis. (WFRV) – As floodwaters continue to rise, Shiocton residents race to protect their homes and businesses as the water creeps closer.
Local 5 News saw dozens of people barricading their homes with stacks of sandbags on Thursday afternoon. Most of the vehicles going in and out of the severely flooded village were carrying sandbags.
“Yesterday when I left the house around noon or one o’ clock it (the water) wasn’t even at the sidewalk yet and to see it today almost to our house is crazy,” Shiocton resident Jacklyn Jens told Local 5 News.
Jacklyn and her husband Bryce said they heeded the evacuation order from village officials. They came back to check on their house on Thursday and said they were very grateful for all the folks who came by and helped them put sandbags around it.
They said so far water hasn’t entered their home.
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“Everybody who is filling them sandbags keep on going because everyone here appreciates it,” Bryce Jens said.
“The community has really come together to help everyone out,” Jacklyn added. “(When there are) situations like this it’s really awesome to see.”
Officials warn that the rivers in the area haven’t crested yet and will likely continue to rise.
“Those who chose not to leave, please be advised that as of tomorrow morning you may not be able to get into or out of the village of Shiocton’s limits,” village officials posted in their last flooding update on Facebook.
Village officials are urging resident to take the evacuation order seriously as floodwater continues to rise.
“Unless there is a legitimate, serious emergency people shouldn’t think about coming to Shiocton,” Outagamie County executive Tom Nelson told Local 5 News on Thursday afternoon.
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New London also continues to see severe flooding in the city. The downtown is underwater and business owners have resorted to sandbags to protect their storefronts from the encroaching water. Local 5 saw several people kayaking across city streets on Thursday afternoon.
Many of the roads leading down towards the Wolf River remain closed. Officials warn folks about the dangers of wading or driving through standing water.
The city also issued a notice for volunteers willing to fill sandbags Friday morning. Those interested should go to Hatten Stadium starting at 8 a.m.
We Energies also temporarily disconnected natural gas in some parts of the city.
