As of Saturday morning several roads opened, but many remain closed due to flooding concerns in and around waterways in Brown County. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has declared a state of emergency. That allows state agencies and the Wisconsin National Guard to help if needed. for a map of Brown County Road Closures.<doc-sep>This story is being provided free to all readers as a public service by the Green Bay Press-Gazette. GREEN BAY - Drier weather and cooler nights starting this weekend should help ease the conditions that led to widespread flooding, road closures, and evacuations Thursday and Friday in northeastern Wisconsin, a meteorologist says. Daytime temperatures will still melt the area's snowpack, already greatly diminished from days of warm temperatures, but nights will fall below freezing, which will slow down the melting, said Roy Eckberg of the National Weather Service in Ashwaubenon. And rain that dropped more than an inch on the Green Bay area in the last couple days should be finished for the foreseeable future, Eckberg said. Meanwhile, Gov. Tony Evers on Friday afternoon declared a state of emergency, which directs all state agencies to assist as needed in the response and recovery effort from the flooding. Earlier Friday, Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach issued a disaster declaration for the county. Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt also declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon in the area around the East River. Cass Street, John Street and Kimball Street and east to John Street, and Eliza Street east of Goodell St., South along Suydam Street to Emilie Street will be closed until further notice, Schmitt said. The melt-off caused a 10-inch snowpack to drop to about two inches at the NWS office near Austin Straubel International Airport over the course of two days, Eckberg said. That 10-inch snowpack contained the equivalent of about three inches of water, he said. Frozen ground gave the melted snow no place to go but to area streams and rivers. Resulting rising floodwaters from the East River forced the closure of most Brown County bridges Friday morning and the evacuation of a neighborhood near East Mason Street. Emergency crews on Friday morning evacuated residents from Hartung Street, along the east shore of the East River near Mason Street, due to rising water. Firefighters used boats and military-style vehicles to reach residents of low-lying areas where the water was several feet deep. Residents were evacuated from homes in an eight- to ten-block area around the East River, roughly from John Street on the east side to Goodell Street on the east side river on west, from Chicago Street south to the Allouez bridge. Meanwhile, at 12:20 p.m., a flooding Duck Creek forced the village of Howard to evacuate all residents on Valley Lane, which is off Riverview Drive. Friday night, village President Burt McIntyre signed a disaster declaration and village officials announced Riverview Drive from Velp Avenue to Community Way will be closed until at least noon Saturday. As flooding spread across the county, Streckenbach issued his disaster declaration, which is an indication that the county expects its expenses related to flooding on Thursday and Friday to exceed a threshold – roughly $913,000 – that will make the county eligible for reimbursement from the Wisconsin Disaster Fund. The fund, administered by the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs Division of Emergency Management, exists to reimburse municipalities for up to 70 percent of qualified expenses incurred in floods and other disasters. Brown County will remain under a National Weather Service flood advisory until Saturday afternoon. Evacuation efforts Gregg Kempken, who was evacuated from his home in the 1500 block of Charles Street, woke up at 4:20 a.m. Friday to a sound he described as a "deluge, a waterfall" of water. He initially thought the sound was water coming off the roof, but it turned out to be flowing into his basement from the foundation. "This is water-in-the-basement or flood number five (for me), but this was by far the worst," Kempken said. "There were items floating in the basement and in the backyard. There was water over the hood of my neighbor's truck. It was scary." He said an emergency responder arrived at his door about 5:30 a.m. to tell him a boat would be coming to evacuate him. He said a small boat picked him up around 7:30 a.m., and a Green Bay Metro bus took him from an emergency operations center to a Red Cross shelter at Green Bay Preble High School. "Everybody that helped with the rescue was wonderful," Kempken said. "It's been tough, but I keep looking up and praying. I hope everyone is OK. This hit a lot of people. I'm not the only one." About 90 people were initially evacuated, 31 were admitted to the shelter and 11 remained there during the day, said Capt. Dan Sandberg of the Brown County Sheriff's Office. The number of people needing shelter was expected to rise Friday evening as people tried to return home after work. Green Bay police reported that East River floodwaters were pushing against the underside of the East Mason Street bridge, which will require an inspection from the state Department of Transportation before it can be reopened to traffic. Worst flooding since 1990 This was the area's worst flooding since June 1990, when heavy rains combined forces with northerly winds to blow the East River flow backward and flooded nearly the same areas being affected Friday morning. RELATED:Warm temperatures, rain, speed up snowmelt, causing flooding throughout Brown County RELATED:Wisconsin flooding: Here's what we know so far Friday The Green Bay Police Department is asking residents to stay away from the East River due to widespread flooding. The Main Street bridge across the river and State 172 remain open to traffic. Evacuations began around 7 p.m. Thursday when the Brown County Emergency Management office told residents on Monroe Road, between County G and State 172, to leave their homes. The Green Bay School District canceled Friday classes because of the flooding, but Preble High School students Holly Rockhill, Gwen Spence, Colt Foley, and Boa and Alex Vanden Langenberg came into school anyway to help the evacuees. “I live five blocks from (Preble), so there was no way I could sit at home and do nothing,” Rockhill said. Most of the students are in Preble’s culinary arts program. Culinary Arts teacher Laurie Spence, who is also Gwen Spence’s mom, said the students contacted her in a group chat Friday morning to see if they could help. She said students, faculty and staff were happy to help those affected by the floods. “It’s just how we roll,” Laurie Spence said. “We always participate. We’re always ready to help people.” County-wide flooding Flooding also was reported in other parts of the county. Pamperin Park was closed because of floodwaters, and roads were closed in Wrightstown and other southern Brown County areas. Green Isle Park and Riverview Softball Complex in Allouez and the Bellevue Dog Park were all under water Friday. A sinkhole developed on County T in the town of Eaton Friday morning, causing a closure between Townline Road and County JJ. The high waters and warm temperatures didn’t stop two fishermen from going out onto the Fox River Thursday and getting into trouble. A resident at Bay Harbor Circle saw the two breaking through the ice as they tried to make their way to shore. Rescue workers from Ashwaubenon and De Pere got them to safety shortly after 6 p.m. Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page was showing flooded roads in the Frog Station area. Brown County street closures Allouez Allouez Avenue from East River to Bellevue Street Ashwaubenon Holmgren/Hansen intersection Vanderperren/Oneida intersection Bellevue Bower Creek Road between Wayside Road and Paris Lane Eaton Road between Ontario Avenue and South Huron Avenue County GV between State 172 and County G Hoffman Road from East River to Bellevue Street Bellevue Street from Allouez Avenue to State 172 DePere Southbridge Road from American Boulevard to Lawrence Drive Eaton Blahnik Road at County P County T from Townline Road to County JJ Glenmore Creekview Road at Big Apple Road Sunnyview Road between Dickinson and Morrison roads Morrision Road between County X and County OO Green Bay Mason Street between Baird and Bellevue streets Howard Intersection of Norfield Road and Veterans Avenue Humboldt North Michaels Road around the area of Luxemburg Road d Ledgeview Ledgeview Road from Creamery Road to Winding Waters Way Kaften Road between Monroe and Creamery roads Creamery Road between Ledgeview and Dickenson roads Both ends of Winding Waters Way Morrison County G from County W to Queens Road Pittsfield State 29 eastbound ramp to State 32 exit Rockland Wrightstown Road between River Oaks Drive and Greenleaf Road Wayside Wayside Road between Morrison and Stone roads Wayside Road between River and Bocks roads Bocks Road between Wayside and Hill roads River Road between Wayside and Man-Cal roads Man-Cal Road between River and Sunny View roads Queens Road between Dickinson Road and County W Wrightstown<doc-sep>
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has declared a state of emergency due to devastating floods in Northeast Wisconsin and beyond. That allows state agencies and the Wisconsin National Guard to help if needed. Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt has issued an emergency declaration for these areas: Cass St., John St., and Kimball and E to John St., and Eliza St. East of Goodell St., South along Suydam St. to Emilie St. These areas are closed until further notice. Electricity is flowing and water is presumed to be "electrically charged," according to the mayor's office. "These areas cannot be de-energized without affecting homes outside of the flood area," reads the emergency declaration. Brown County Emergency Management is asking drivers to obey the road closed signs and barriers. Do not attempt to drive over a closed road. Do not try to drive through flooded roads. "You just want to take those closures seriously. The highway shops closed the road for a reason or law enforcement or any towns and villages and cities around the county have closed those for a reason and for your safety it's the best thing to stay out of them," says Jerad Preston, Director of Brown County Emergency Management. for a current map of Brown County Road Closures. BROWN COUNTY ROAD CLOSURES ALLOUEZ Allouez Ave from East River to Bellevue St ASHWAUBENON Holmgren/Hansen BELLEVUE Bower Creek Rd between Wayside Rd and Paris CTH GV between 172 and CTH G Hoffman from East River to Bellevue St CTH XX (Bellevue St) from CTH O (Allouez Ave) to STH 172 1626 Windsor 172 off ramps to CTH GV CTH V (Lime Kiln) from CTH GV to Windy Acres Way DE PERE Southbridge from American to Lawrence EATON Blahnik at CTH P CTH T from H/E Townline Rd to CTH JJ GLENMORE Creekview at Big Apple Rd Sunnyview Rd between Dickinson and Morrison Morrision Rd between CTH X/CTH OO GREEN BAY Mason St between Baird and Bellevue HOLLAND Holly Mor Road from Man-Cal to Wayside HOWARD Riverview Drive from Maywood Avenue to Community Way Riverview Drive from Velp Avenue to Community Way Valley Lane HUMBOLDT N Michaels Rd around the area of Luxemburg Rd LEDGEVIEW Ledgeview/Creamery Ledgeview Rd from Creamery Rd to Winding Waters Kaften Rd from GV (Monroe) Creamery Creamery Rd closed from Ledgeview Rd to Dickinson (G) Both ends of Winding Waters Way CTH G from CTH GV to Windy Acres Way MORRISON CTH G from CTH W to CTH W/Queens Rd Pleasant View Road from Mill Road to Lark Road to Dickinson PITTSFIELD STH 29 EB ramp to STH 32 (Pulaski) exit 249 ROCKLAND Wrightstown Rd between River Oaks and STH 32/57 (Greenleaf Rd) WAYSIDE Wayside Rd between Morrison Rd and Stone Rd Wayside Rd between River Rd and Bocks Rd Bocks Rd between Wayside and Hill Rd River Rd between Wayside and Man-Cal Man-Cal Rd between River and Sunny View Queens Rd between Dickinson and CTH W WRIGHTSTOWN Wrightstown Rd between River Oaks and STH 32/57 (Greenleaf Rd) School Road from CTH W to Blake Road ******************************************************************** "If you are driving and come to standing water on a road, or water flowing across a road, please Turn Around, Don't Drown. It can be very hard to tell how deep the water is and it only takes 6 inches of moving water to move a car or sweep a person away. Also, if you see barricades...they are there for a reason! Please be careful out there," reads a Facebook post from Brown County Emergency Management. STORMCENTER 2 RESOURCES: