Lee Pulaski, lpulaski@shawanoleader.com
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Water creeps up along the boat landing on Lieg Avenue in Shawano on Wednesday. No flooding was reported to the county, but water levels remain high.
A flood watch was lifted early Wednesday, but many rivers and lakes in Shawano County are still swollen from recent rainfall.
Natalie Easterday, county emergency management coordinator, said Wednesday afternoon that she had received no reports about rivers flowing over their banks. The National Weather Service reported 0.45 inches of rain fell during the day. Forecasts had estimated the area could receive 1 to 2 inches of rain.
Rivers and lakes have been higher than normal due to a pair of storms last week that dumped about 4 inches of rain in Shawano County.
“Certainly, the rivers and lakes are running pretty high right now,” Easterday said. “We’re just monitoring the situation. Anyone who lives along waterways should always be monitoring the situation.”
Forecasts from the National Weather Service show little chance of precipitation over the next week, which should help to allow the water levels to return to normal.
September is National Preparedness Month, and Easterday said the recent storms and the risk of flooding are reminders to to develop emergency contingency plans.
“We’re really pushing for people to have emergency supply kits and communication plans, and to make sure everybody in the family knows what to do if there’s a disaster,” Easterday said.