FOND DU LAC, Wis. — At about 5 a.m. Thursday morning, emergency crews in Fond Du Lac started evacuations, as ice jams rose the level of the river to about 20 inches.
Emergency personnel tell NBC26 that the ice shelves were backed for nearly 500 feet under the Western Avenue and Oak Street bridges. The ice got caught up under the bridges and forced water into countless homes and apartment complexes in the area.
For the better part of the day, heavy equipment has been used to try and break up the jam. But for those homeowners who are dealing with flooding right now, that news doesn't give much comfort.
"I’m dealing with a flood, says Junior Eurby. “My whole basement got flooded out and I got two animals and my landlord said he can't help."
Eurby says he has five feet of water in his basement.
"I mean everything is going to be ruined but at least everybody is alive and healthy," says another resident, Marci Piper.
Fond Du Lac's Fire Chief says about 200 to 300 people have already been evacuated from their homes and brought to a local shelter. The chief added it could be three to four days until those folks are let back into their homes.
Now four Red Cross shelters in Wisconsin, details below:
— Red Cross - Wisconsin (@RedCrossWIS) March 14, 2019
* Fond du Lac - Community Church, N6717 Streblow Dr.
* Fond du Lac - Harbor Haven, 459 E. 1st St.
* Prairie du Sac - Sauk Prairie H.S., 105 Ninth St.
* Arcadia - Holy Family Catholic Church, 223 Maple St. pic.twitter.com/YCdLJVIlGA
