OSHKOSH – The city remained under a State of Emergency Monday afternoon, April 27, as the Fox River and Lake Winnebago continued to rise slowly, with waters not expected to recede until April 29 and 30.
Low-lying areas will continue to experience minor flooding as the Fox River is expected to crest around 7.7 feet Monday evening before Lake Winnebago crests at just more than 4 feet later in the week.
Officials are not anticipating putting an evacuation order in effect, but residents are still being urged to continue sandbagging once water comes within a foot of their homes.
What areas have been impacted?
Campbell Road and Bauman Street were impacted over the weekend, with up to a foot of water surrounding homes and lower-lying structures in those areas.
Staff at the Department of Public Works have been deploying barricades on Bauman Street while handing out free sandbags to residents dealing with the impacts of flooding.
Engineering and Utilities Director James Rabe told the Northwestern: “We’re keeping a very close eye on where things are at it, and the biggest thing to continue to pay close attention to are the winds coming out of the southeast because water levels could change dramatically depending on what those winds are doing to the lake.”
“Residents who are getting rid of debris and impacted by damage should also keep in mind if we end with a disaster declaration what is eligible for cost reimbursement,” Rabe added.
Officials have asked residents to sort debris by material type to speed collection and ensure items are recycled or disposed of properly, following guidance from the Winnebago County Solid Waste Department.
Keeping materials separated helps crews handle waste safely and route it to the appropriate disposal option, the city said.
What to know about sorting debris
The National Weather Service advised that flood warnings will remain in effect until those waters recede below the minor flooding stage.
The area is anticipating another half inch of rain April 27, but the National Weather Service said it shouldn’t contribute significantly to any threats of flooding in Oshkosh.
Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@usatodayco.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @justinmarville.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Oshkosh flooding keeps city under emergency as waters rise
Reporting by Justin Marville and Brandon Reid, Oshkosh Northwestern / Oshkosh Northwestern
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
