Rain-swollen river floods small Wisconsin city, forcing evacution of downtown homes

Flooding forces evacuations in small Wis. city

ARCADIA, Wis. — A powerful storm system passing through the upper Midwest has flooded a small Wisconsin community’s downtown and has forced the mandatory evacuation of affected homes.

The Trempealeau (TREMP’-eh-loh) County Sheriff’s Department says deputies are working Thursday to evacuate homes in downtown Arcadia, which sits along the swollen Trempealeau river.

Mayor John Kimmel has declared a state of emergency and officials have sounded the civil defense siren.

Classes in Arcadia schools have been canceled and two highways leading into the town of about 2,500 residents have been closed.

Arcadia’s park and recreation director Eva Anderson estimated 100 homes may be affected.