Arcadia in state of emergency; severe flooding possible
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Posted: Thursday, September 23, 2010 7:43 am | Updated: 7:51 am, Fri Sep 24, 2010.
Heavy rain and flooding in western Wisconsin is causing evacuations and road closures, and the National Weather Service has isssued flood warning for Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce and Dunn counties.
Governor Doyle has declared a state of emergency for Trempealeau County as a result of flooding in the Arcadia area. The State Emergency Operations Center is activated and is in contact with county and tribal emergency management offices.
In Eau Claire an apparent mudslide closed for a short time one lane on northbound U.S. 53 near Melby Road. Earlier reports of an island pushing against the North Crossing bridge proved false.
The Trempealeau Sheriff's Department says the city of Arcadia is dealing with some major flooding. Highway 95 leading into the city are flooded and closed. A detour has been established: Eastbound traffic should take Highway A left and follow that around Arcadia to Highway 93. Take Highway 93 to the right to reconnect with 95. Westbound traffic should reverse these directions.
Highway 93 was closed for a time but has reoponed. The Wisconsin State Patrol reports Highway 88 is closed from Highway 35 to Highway 0.
The state Department of Transportation is assessing the flooding, and long-term detours may be implemented in Trempealeau and Buffalo counties.
The National Weather Service has increased the severity of flooding expected on the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers from minor to moderate. The Chippewa River at Eau Claire is predicted to crest Saturday evening at 775.6 feet. Flood stage is 773 feet and the river measured 762.55 feet at 7 a.m. Thursday.
And the Eau Claire River near Fall Creek, which measured 2.56 feet at 5 a.m. today, is expected to crest at 16.9 feet by 7 a.m. Saturday, just short of major flood stage of 17 feet.
The Arcadia mayor has declared a state of emergency. Deputies say the downtown area is flooded and officials have ordered a mandatory evacuation of Cleveland Street. As many as 1,500 residents have been evacuated. Arcadia’s park and recreation director Eva Anderson estimated 100 homes in the city of 2,500 could be affected by flooding.
The entire Arcadia downtown area is under 1 to 3 feet of water. The Red Cross shelter has been moved to the National Guard Armory at 1350 Wilson Ave. Responders are rescuing flood victims with boats. The National Guard has deployed three 5-ton trucks at the request of local authorities to assist the incident commander with evacuations as needed.
Flooding is also reported in Clark County.
Arcadia schools are closed for the day.
The weather service reported at 7 a.m. today that Eau Claire had received 1.47 inches of rain from the storm system so far with more rain expected throughout the day. Areas just south of Eau Claire received more than 4 inches.
Governor Doyle has declared a state of emergency for Trempealeau County as a result of flooding in the Arcadia area. The State Emergency Operations Center is activated and is in contact with county and tribal emergency management offices.
The National Weather Service reports that more severe weather with heavy rains and strong winds will continue throughout the day. Some areas are reporting more than 4 inches of rain has fall, with another 2 to 4 inches possible. The weather service is forecasting flooding of "major severity" for the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers Eau Claire County and flooding of possible "record severity" for the Chippewa River at Durand affecting Buffalo and Pepin Counties.
In Eau Claire an apparent mudslide closed for a short time one lane on northbound U.S. 53 near Melby Road. Earlier reports of an island pushing against the North Crossing bridge proved false.
The Trempealeau Sheriff's Department says the city of Arcadia is dealing with some major flooding. Highway 95 leading into the city are flooded and closed. A detour has been established: Eastbound traffic should take Highway A left and follow that around Arcadia to Highway 93. Take Highway 93 to the right to reconnect with 95. Westbound traffic should reverse these directions.
Highway 93 was closed for a time but has reoponed. The Wisconsin State Patrol reports Highway 88 is closed from Highway 35 to Highway 0.
The state Department of Transportation is assessing the flooding, and long-term detours may be implemented in Trempealeau and Buffalo counties.
The National Weather Service has increased the severity of flooding expected on the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers from minor to moderate. The Chippewa River at Eau Claire is predicted to crest Saturday evening at 775.6 feet. Flood stage is 773 feet and the river measured 762.55 feet at 7 a.m. Thursday.
And the Eau Claire River near Fall Creek, which measured 2.56 feet at 5 a.m. today, is expected to crest at 16.9 feet by 7 a.m. Saturday, just short of major flood stage of 17 feet.
The Arcadia mayor has declared a state of emergency. Deputies say the downtown area is flooded and officials have ordered a mandatory evacuation of Cleveland Street. As many as 1,500 residents have been evacuated. Arcadia’s park and recreation director Eva Anderson estimated 100 homes in the city of 2,500 could be affected by flooding.
The entire Arcadia downtown area is under 1 to 3 feet of water. The Red Cross shelter has been moved to the National Guard Armory at 1350 Wilson Ave. Responders are rescuing flood victims with boats. The National Guard has deployed three 5-ton trucks at the request of local authorities to assist the incident commander with evacuations as needed.
Flooding is also reported in Clark County.
Arcadia schools are closed for the day.
The weather service reported at 7 a.m. today that Eau Claire had received 1.47 inches of rain from the storm system so far with more rain expected throughout the day. Areas just south of Eau Claire received more than 4 inches.
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