Most flood-damaged Oconto County roads reopen to traffic

Oconto County Highway Department crews worked through the weekend to patch roads that been washed out when culverts failed during the floods of May 12.

Severe thunderstorms and high winds struck northern Oconto County around sunset May 12, with up to 3 inches inches of rain that caused flash flooding in several areas.

The county and several towns declared a flood emergency and closed several stretches of road to traffic. The Suring, Gillett, Oconto Falls and Coleman school districts canceled classes May 13, citing road damage across the area.

By the end of the weekend, only three roads remained closed:

• County Roads B and A, from West County Road A to west County Road M, in the Town of Lena;

• County Road A between Buseman Road and County Road G in the Town of Maple Valley; and

• Behnke Lane in the Town of Maple Valley.

The county roads are expected to be closed for at least a few weeks. Damage and cost estimates were still being compiled as the waters receded.

An Oconto County sheriff’s deputy escaped injury May 12 when the pavement collapsed under the road he was traveling because of floodwaters.

Sheriff Todd Skarban said the deputy was responding to assist with a vehicle that had been struck by a falling tree on Sleeter Road.

The incident occurred at about 8:50 p.m. while the deputy was traveling west on County Road A east of Erickson Road in the Town of Maple Valley,

“The floodwaters had undermined a four-foot section of culvert pipe,” Skarban said. “As the squad drove over the culvert area, the pavement gave way, causing the squad to crash into the water and side of the washout.”

The deputy was able to get out of the squad to safety with his canine in tow, Skarban said. A highway department workers also helped the deputy at the scene.

“Mother Nature is not to be trifled with,” Skarban said. “I would like to thank our citizens and the media for heeding the warning and staying away from the affected areas.”

The Oconto County Public Health Department reminded the public that when a well has been flooded, bacteria and other harmful organisms can make the water unsafe for some time, and individuals with flooded wells should use bottled water, tap water that has been boiled for one minute, or water from a well that was not flooded.

The department recommended that anyone with standing water in their yard tests their well, and if well disinfection is needed, a licensed well driller or pump installer should be contacted.