The National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States reported on Friday, July 5th, that a dam in the eastern part of Wisconsin has been washed away by flooding, forcing downstream residents to evacuate.
According to the Associated Press, meteorologist Scott Cultice stated that around 1:45 PM on Friday, the dam on the Little Wolf River in Manawa was breached. The town has a population of around 1200 people. It is not yet clear how many residents have been evacuated.
Jason Severson, the Chief of Police in Manawa, estimated that an area 50 feet (15.2 meters) wide around the dam has been eroded.
Officials mentioned that the local government ultimately opened the gates on the dam to release water and alleviate pressure on the structure.
Severson told reporters on Friday afternoon, “The dam looks intact, but there is significant erosion on the north side. We believe the worst is behind us, so now we need to assess the situation and plan for the future.”
As erosion on the dam worsened, authorities began evacuating some households.
The rainfall started around 8:30 AM on Friday, and within a few hours, it amounted to approximately 5 inches (12.7 centimeters). Flash flood warnings were issued for Manawa and other areas in Waupaca County.
“In Manawa and the surrounding areas, the rain just didn’t stop,” Cultice said. “Water rescues were conducted. Most roads in the town center are submerged in floodwaters.”
Emergency shelters were set up at a high school and a Masonic lodge.
A post on Manawa’s Facebook page stated that all entrances to the town had been blocked, warning people not to attempt to drive into or around the town as vehicles on surrounding roads were submerged in floodwaters.
The weather service cautioned that there might be more rain or thunderstorms, possibly lasting through the weekend and into early next week.