MANAWA, WI — Some good news following a day of flash flooding and evacuations in Manawa. The Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office says Highway 22/110 is now reopened to traffic and residents who had been evacuated this afternoon are being allowed to return to their homes. A WIDOT engineer inspected the dam and found it to be intact, although he says there is sizeable erosion on the north side. The engineer also determined that the nearby bridge that carries traffic on Highway 22/110 will be safe for traffic once cleanup operations are over. The bridge at Royalton will also be able to handle traffic safely. He says County Highway B near the Manawa Rodeo grounds will likely be closed indefinitely because it’s down river from the dam. An event at the rodeo grounds and a parade scheduled for Saturday in downtown Manawa have been postponed.
(Original post 2:39 PM July 5, 2024)
MANAWA, Wis. — Manawa Police are ordering anyone living downstream from the Manawa Dam on the Little Wolf River to evacuate immediately.
Operators say that failure of the dam is imminent. That would send a large volume of water into the Little Wolf, causing flash flooding. Manawa High School and the Masonic Lodge are being used as emergency shelters.
A flash flood warning has been issued for central Waupaca County until 930 PM.
- A dam break on the Little Wolf River below the Manawa Dam is imminent via emergency management and dam operators.
- Major flooding downstream from the Manawa dam and Little Wolf River is expected.
“We have been diligently working this morning and afternoon. Our top priority currently is ensuring everyone STAYS AWAY from Manawa,” shared the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office in a statement on social media. “Please allow emergency responders to carry out their duties without interference. Our paramount concern is the safety of all individuals involved.”
The National Weather Service had issued a flash flood EMERGENCY for Waupaca County until 1:15 (Friday) afternoon. The heavy rain from thunderstorms making their way through the area is causing widespread flooding in the areas of Manawa and Ogdensburg.
Manawa has seen more than four-inches of rain since 8:30 this morning. All entrances to the city have been closed and drivers are urged to find different routes. City officials say Union, North Bridge, and Howard Streets are underwater–as is Industrial Drive. Beech Street has been washed away.
Those staying in campgrounds and at the Mid-Western Rodeo grounds have been evacuated. Emergency shelter is being set up at Manawa High School.
APPLETON FLOODING CONCERNS
Appleton Police are also asking people to stay in their homes due to a flooding emergency. A public safety alert was sent out to mobile phones in the area shortly after 1 PM. A number of northside streets are flooded.
At 12:31 PM a flash flood warning was issued for Outagamie County until 3:30 PM.
- Between 1 to 3 inches of rainfall has fallen since 11 AM this morning.
- Richmond street, just south of highway 41, reported 1 to 2 feet of flowing water.
At 1:23 PM, a flash flood warning was issued for NE Calumet, NW Manitowoc and southern Brown counties until 430 PM.
- Between 1 to 3″ of rainfall has fallen, another 1-2 inches of rainfall is forecasted for the rest of the afternoon.
- Flash flooding is ongoing in the warned area.
