A dam breach in the southeastern Wisconsin community of Manawa prompted swift evacuations on Friday. The National Weather Service and Manawa city officials coordinated efforts to ensure the safety of residents living downriver from the Little Wolf River.

Dam Breach and Immediate Response

The dam in Manawa was compromised by floodwaters around 1:45 p.m., as confirmed by weather service meteorologist Scott Cultice. First responders quickly identified erosion near the dam, leading to immediate evacuation orders for those living downstream. The city of Manawa posted an urgent update on Facebook, notifying residents of the developing situation.

“We started getting reports of things flowing down the road and the road being unpassable,” explained Manawa Police Chief Jason Severson during an evening news briefing. He estimated that approximately 50 feet of land around the dam had eroded, though the dam itself remained intact. “It’s still an active situation, we think the worst of it is over,” Severson reassured, noting that crews had managed to relieve some of the pressure by opening the dam.

Impact on Community and Infrastructure

The flooding caused significant damage to the city’s infrastructure, particularly the wastewater treatment plant, which was inundated by floodwaters. As a result, Manawa Public Works director Josh Smith issued a boil water advisory. “We are implementing a boil water order until we can get a safe sample,” Smith stated, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported, according to Manawa Mayor Mike Frazier. However, the flooding disrupted several community events, including a Friday night rodeo and a Saturday parade, both of which were canceled. The emergency also led to the evacuation of several nursing homes, with residents who couldn’t evacuate instructed to shelter in place. The exact number of evacuees remains unclear.

The heavy rains, which began around 8:30 a.m. on Friday, resulted in approximately 5 inches of rainfall within a few hours. This led the weather service to issue a flash flood warning for Manawa and other parts of Waupaca County. “It just wouldn’t stop raining in and around the Manawa area,” Cultice remarked, adding that water rescues were conducted and most downtown roads were flooded.

Ongoing Weather Concerns

The relentless rainfall created hazardous conditions throughout Manawa. Emergency shelters were established at a high school and a Masonic center to accommodate displaced residents. The Manawa Police Department warned on Facebook that “due to the amount of water the dam isn’t safe.”

The city blocked all entrances to Manawa, located about 55 miles west of Green Bay, to prevent further accidents. “Please do not try to drive into the city or around the city,” a Facebook post from the city cautioned. Numerous streets, including Union Street, N. Bridge Street, Beech Street, Howard Street, and Industrial Drive, were reported as flooded or washed away.