Sandbags available in area communities

Officials throughout the county are monitoring rising water levels

Communities throughout Western Racine County are making sandbags available to residents whose properties are threatened by the rising waters of the Fox River.

Racine County Emergency Management and Public Works Departments hosted a meeting for area municipal officials at 8:30 a.m. Thursday to discuss potential impacts from predicted heavy rains on the already elevated water levels.

“Racine County has an extensive flood plain management program in place,” County Executive Jim Ladwig said. “Areas experiencing flooding, in general, are parks, fields, and open spaces. We do not typically see the type of flooding encountered in other parts of Southeastern Wisconsin.”

As a precaution, the county has made sandbagging supplies available at cost to all area communities. Among the local communites to order sandbags and the quantity are: City of Burlington, 10,000; Town of Dover, 200; Town of Waterford, 6,000; Village of Rochester, 150; Village of Union Grove, 100; Village of Waterford, 4,000; and Town of Norway, 1,000.

• City of Burlington will provide sand and bags to property owners within flood zones. Materials are available for pickup at 834 Milwaukee Avenue (old Public Works property). Residents should enter the site off of Maryland Avenue.

Those who need sandbags should their own shovels and be prepared to fill bags. Elderly or disabled residents who need assistance placing sandbags should contact City Hall at (262) 342-1168. This site will remain open as long as deemed necessary.

• Village of Waterford property owners may pick up filled sandbags at the Public Works building, 801 Ela Avenue. The sandbags are on pallets for pick up at any time on a first come, first serve basis.  Residents are responsible for loading their own sandbags.

Due to strong water currents, local officials strongly encourage people not to boat on the Fox River at this time.

Updates will be provided at noon on the Village of Waterford website at www.vi.waterford.wi.gov on April 18 and 19 or earlier should additional information be available.

Questions may be directed to Village Hall at (262) 534-3980.

People living in other communities should call their respective municipal office for additional information.

A pamphlet on using sandbags effectively can be found here:

Sandbag_Pamphlet