SHIOCTON, Wis. (WFRV) – A day filled with filling sandbags, helping neighbors and seeing the sturgeon out of the Wolf River.
Manawa community stacks sandbags to protect local water treatment plant
In the early morning on Wednesday, the Village of Shiocton sent an emergency statement, asking that residents take part in a mandatory evacuation, due to the risk of the Wolf River’s water level continuing to rise at an accelerated rate.
Some residents decided against the evacuation, saying they have seen worse flooding.
“I’ve seen it high like this before, back in 1970; it doesn’t scare me yet,” Wanda Schneider said.
It then led to the Shiocton Area School District canceling school on Wednesday, and most likely the rest of the week due to the uncertainty of water levels going forward, leading many students to join as volunteers in filling, loading and helping place sandbags across town.
“This is the epitome of a small town,” Shiocton Safety Officer Marty Baker said. “We’ve got people coming from all over to help out.”
The community help came not just from Shiocton, but from across northeast Wisconsin.
“He is a longtime friend, he called me, and I had the equipment, so I came to help,” Appleton resident Tim Vanderloop said.
Despite the flooding limiting traffic across the village, many delivery drivers had to continue on, and businesses shut down due to the water.
Authorities across northeast Wisconsin share one common message amid ongoing flooding
Out of everything happening, sturgeon were being carried out of the Wolf River and into ditches, causing people to come and look at where they ended up.
Outagamie County and the Village of Shiocton urge people to avoid the area until otherwise stated.
