Madison (Press Release) - Wisconsin
Emergency Management (WEM) continues to monitor the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
The Wisconsin Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was elevated Tuesday morning with
additional WEM and WI National Guard staff in response to the high winds and
strong waves that were expected along Lake Michigan.
The National Weather
Service had originally forecasted waves to reach as high as 8 to 14 feet along
the shore between Sheboygan and Kenosha Counties that could cause flooding and
damage along the lakefront areas.
However, that forecast was downgraded Tuesday
afternoon and damage to the Lake Michigan shoreline is expected to be less
severe than originally anticipated. There have been minimal reports of
scattered power outages along Lake Michigan.
Kenosha
County: Officials
in Pleasant Prairie revised their voluntary evacuation advisory down to a flood
advisory and reduced the involved area to south of 110th Street and east of 2nd
Avenue. Village officials are still advising residents in this area
to protect or move property and belongings to a higher level, if they have not
already done so. Areas abutting the four creeks that drain to Lake Michigan
remain identified as primary areas subject to flooding and damage from this
event. Sandbags will be made available to residents until 6:00 p.m. tonight.
Kenosha County Emergency Management will continue to monitor the area
throughout the evening and Wednesday.
Hurricane
Sandy: WEM
continues to monitor the situation and reminds Wisconsin first responders to
not self-deploy to the hurricane hit areas. Wisconsin is part of
the national Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) that is used to
coordinate deployment in support of response and recovery efforts. Impacted
states are making requests through EMAC for various first responder resources
and emergency management teams to ensure a coordinated response. Wisconsin is
ready to send needed assistance but has not sent any resources since assistance
is coming from nearby states at this time.
Volunteer/Donations: For those who would
like to help hurricane victims, disaster relief officials are recommending
monetary donations to disaster volunteer organizations such as the American Red
Cross or Salvation Army. The organizations can then purchase supplies such as
food, water and other items to help those in need. WEM also recommends that
those who want to volunteer should contact local disaster relief organizations
that are coordinating volunteer response efforts rather than to self-deploy to
a disaster area.
Wisconsin
Emergency Management remains engaged with local officials. The State Emergency
Operations Center was elevated to Level 3 this morning to monitor events but is
expected to transition back to Level 4 at 4:00 p.m. While there have been no
requests for state assistance, Wisconsin Emergency Management stands ready to
help.
