Mount Pleasant Has Sandbags for Residents, Sturtevant Ponds Near Capacity

**Updated 1 p.m. April 18

Racine County remains under a flood watch through Friday morning, and a Racine County Executive Jim Ladwig on Thursday declared a state of emergency.

While the county has a comprehensive flood plan, the rainfall totals from last week could get met again this week, but in a much shorter period of time. That much rain creates the potential for flooding both along rivers and in urban settings.

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

In Mount Pleasant, Highway Department Director Mark Benish said he has a limited number of sandbags already filled for residents who might need them.

"We have some already made up that residents can have for free," he said.

Benish suggested that folks call ahead to be sure there are sandbags available and to give public works employees time to fill more if necessary.

In Sturtevant, Administrator Mary Cole said the Hiawatha Crossing retention ponds are helping keep Hulda Drive from flooding, but are also near capacity.

"The ponds are about five feet from spilling over capacity," she said. "We're a little worried but hoping it doesn't come to that."

Racine County officials reached out to every municipality so they could order sandbags:

City of Burlington                    

10,000

Town of Dover           

200

Town of Waterford                

6000

Village of Rochester              

150

Village of Union Grove           

100

Village of Mt. Pleasant

250

Village of Waterford               

4000

Village of Norway                  

1000

                       TOTAL

21,700

Other municipalities are monitoring the situation and report they have adequate supplies on hand at this time, Ladwig added.