Emergency management personnel from the Menominee Indian tribe will attempt to break an ice jam Friday morning to alleviate future flooding problems along the Wolf River near downtown Keshena.
“Our environmental services personnel determined it is important that this is done,” said Ben Warrington, the tribe’s emergency management coordinator. “We have decided to go in there and try to break it through mechanical means.”
The primary concern, Warrington said, is a 100-foot wide ice jam in a wooded area a quarter-mile north of the Shawano County line. He said he did not know how thick the ice is.
Following severe flooding along the Wolf River, the tribe, Menominee County and town of Menominee inspected three areas of the Wolf River where ice jams formed.
A flood warning remains in effect until Friday morning in parts of Menominee County.
Tribal and county officials say they are hopeful warmer temperatures this weekend will help melt the jams, but cold weather could mean more flooding.
“If … colder temperatures set in for the remainder of the winter, we could be looking at a state highway closure lasting all winter long, damage to residential and business properties, and even worse flooding in the spring,” officials said in a statement released Wednesday.
Warrington said there have been signs of potential flooding issues since Thanksgiving as far north as Keshena Falls, and he began receiving calls about flooding around Dec. 1.
Lisa Wauka was among the residents along state Highway 47 who reported flooded basements.
“This is the worst, and what makes it as bad as it is, is that it is usually a spring phenomena, and I have never seen it in the winter season,” she said. “I have had water in my basement since Thanksgiving, and for years I have never had water in the basement.”
Tribal and county officials recently started providing sandbags to people residing in the affected area. The agencies placed 1,000 sandbags Monday and have 2,000 in reserve. They received an additional 8,000 sandbags Thursday.
“This is the first time we have had to sandbag here,” said Wauka, as plumber Mike Moede was installing a second sump pump in her basement Thursday.
Warrington reported at least eight homes have been affected by the flooding. Some residents have had additional sump pumps installed and raised their furnaces from the basement floors.
Keshena residents living near the floodwaters can receive sandbags and other supplies at a service station on Mianaceqtawak Road near Go Around Road.
Warrington said Mayor Lorna Marquardt has offered the city of Shawano’s assistance. The Shawano Area Fire Department also has offered its help.
“The community of Keshena contributes a lot to the economic stability of Shawano, so it is important we help them in need,” Marquardt said. “It is about people helping people. They are our friends, and they are our neighbors.”
Categories
