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Shiocton issues evacuation and safety update as river recedes
Summary
Village staff said the evacuation order remains in place as the river fell to about 15 feet; officials reported no injuries, advised residents not to re-enter homes or tamper with gas meters, and said cleanup and disaster‑funding documentation are underway.
The Shiocton Village Board of Trustees and village staff told residents in a public update that the village remains under an evacuation order even as the river receded to about 15 feet and no injuries have been reported. A village staff member posted the update advising residents that re-entry may be delayed while officials inspect streets, utilities and infrastructure for hidden hazards.
The update said emergency partners meeting with the Village included Shiocton Police Department, Shiocton‑Bovina Fire Department, the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department, the Wisconsin State Patrol, Outagamie County Emergency Management, Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, Ellington Fire‑MABAS and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It urged residents not to assume the danger has passed: “Just because the river is going down doesn’t mean the Village is out of danger. The evacuation is still in place!” the update said.
Officials reported no injuries or emergencies to date and said village public works and board staff have worked to keep water service on. The update cited guidance from the Wisconsin DNR that a boil‑water notice is not required so long as water mains remain intact; officials cautioned that a break in water mains would change that assessment. Sandbagging operations were reported complete at the Ellington Fire Department and remaining supplies will be transported to neighboring Fremont.
The update outlined plans for recovery once re-entry is allowed: the Village Board and Clerk’s Office are documenting damage and compiling information needed to apply for disaster funding; a distribution site will be established so residents can access immediate needs such as food, water and cleaning supplies; and volunteers offering help are being organized and will be given instructions when a plan is ready. The notice also warned residents not to turn gas meters back on themselves, saying attempts to do so could be hazardous as temperatures drop overnight.
Next steps, according to the update, include continued infrastructure inspections before permitting re-entry (the message said re-entry “may not be for another week”), coordination with county and state partners on cleanup, and a forthcoming plan for volunteer and donation management. The update noted no rain was expected in the immediate forecast but that overnight temperatures would fall.
