Intense flooding breached a dam in eastern Wisconsin, causing officials to temporarily evacuate residents who live downstream. The city of Manawa received about 4 inches of heavy rain and flash flooding, prompting first responders to evacuate those living downstream when they noticed the land around the dam eroding. The situation at the Manawa Dam along the Little Wolf River has since stabilized, and residents were allowed to return home at 5 p.m. as the floodwaters started to recede. The National Weather Service reported ongoing flooding directly downstream of the dam in the town of Royalton, but the situation was deemed fairly stable.
Meteorologist Gus Kaiser from the National Weather Service office in Green Bay reported that while the rain had stopped and floodwaters were receding, there was still ongoing flooding directly downstream of the dam which was affecting the town of Royalton. The city could expect more flooding over the next several days as rain remained in the forecast, and they were working to lower the floodwaters to a level where repair work could begin. The Manawa Dam itself did not fail, and while there is erosion on the north side of the structure and in the land surrounding the dam, the dam gates have been opened to relieve some of the pressure from the floodwaters.
Manawa Police Chief Jason Severson stated at a news conference that the Manawa Dam itself had not failed, though about a 50-foot-wide area around the dam had eroded. He emphasized that the situation had stabilized and there were no injuries reported. The city of Manawa with a population of about 1,200 residents had been affected by impassable roads and stranded residents due to the heavy rain and flash flooding. Residents were allowed to return home as the floodwaters started to recede, but the city was still expecting more flooding in the coming days.
The city was working to get the floodwaters low enough so that repair work could begin on the damaged areas around the dam. The National Weather Service office in Green Bay reported that the rain had stopped and that floodwaters were beginning to recede, but some ongoing flooding was affecting the town of Royalton directly downstream of the dam. While the situation was deemed fairly stable, residents were urged to remain cautious and vigilant as the city continues to manage the aftermath of the flooding caused by the breached dam.
Overall, the situation at the Manawa Dam in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, has stabilized, and residents were allowed to return home as the floodwaters started to recede. While there was still some ongoing flooding directly downstream of the dam affecting the town of Royalton, the city was working to lower the floodwaters to allow for repair work to begin. The dam itself did not fail, but there was erosion on the north side of the structure and in the land surrounding the dam. The authorities assured that the situation was being closely monitored and that no injuries had been reported.