(WLUK) — The Big Falls Dam is holding steady, according to the latest reports, but a dam near Shawano is now at risk of failing.
Some residents below the Big Falls Dam evacuated after a flash flood warning was issued Tuesday morning following very heavy rain Monday night. Dozens of people worked to put up sandbags Tuesday morning, and water levels receded Tuesday afternoon.
Some residents below the Big Falls Dam evacuated after a flash flood warning was issued Tuesday morning following very heavy rain Monday night. (WLUK)
Waupaca County Emergency Management Director Zac Van Asten updated FOX 11 on the dam’s condition Tuesday afternoon.
“The dam has not breached, nothing like that,” said Van Asten. “The embankments that we’ve created — the sand, the dirt, the gravel and everything we brought in — has held very well.”
Waupaca County Emergency Management issued a flash flood warning at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday. It expired at 4:15 p.m. The county lifted its evacuation order at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday after the dam was reportedly stabilized.
Van Asten said the dam operator has been working alongside first responders. He told FOX 11 the water levels are receding and the National Weather Service has projected less rain than anticipated for Tuesday night. In the meantime, officials will continue to monitor the situation.
“We have brought in truckloads of sand, gravel, different types of material. Private residents have even brought in beams, different types of things. Everybody is pulling together to help, whatever they need,” Van Asten said.
Communities downstream include Manawa, where the Manawa Dam failed two years ago. Authorities urged residents to sign up to receive alerts from Waupaca County’s website.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office said it had been notified the Balsam Row Road Dam just north of Shawano is at risk of failure.
“Water has crested over the top of the dam, and because the dam is not fully functional, there are limited options to reduce the threat at this time,” authorities said. “If you live along the river south of the dam, please have a plan in place and be prepared to leave quickly if conditions worsen.”
At this time, no official evacuation order has been issued. However, residents in the affected area should closely monitor the situation and be ready to act if further emergency notifications are issued, according to authorities. You can text 54166 to 888777 to receive alerts.
