Melting snow causing basement flooding in Sheboygan
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Tom Murray reports the weekend brought water on top of water, and left extra flooding in streets and yards. Video by tmj4.com
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SHEBOYGAN - Dan Stoeger's pant legs are soaked and so is his dad's basement.
"I was downstairs this morning pumping with a Shop-Vac. I just couldn't keep up," Stoeger said. "Last night the water was up to the steps and it just keeps on seeping into the basement."
Firefighters are busy answering calls for flooded basements and yards. The Sheboygan Fire Department loaned industrial grade pumps to at least 18 residents who called with high water problems.
Firefighters chopped ice with shovels. They tried to channel water away from homes.
Sheboygan got a lot of snow this year which has turned to slush. It is sitting on top of a layer of ice, making it very difficult for the ground to absorb the water.
The fire department started loaning pumps to residents scattered throughout the city on Sunday.
"It's hard to beat mother nature sometimes," said Shift Commander Gary Kolberg. "I don't know if anyone else is going to respond in a timely manner."
Ricky Stock is using one of those pumps. His yard is low ground for his neighborhood. Water is flowing toward his garage like a steady stream.
"Ankle deep in the front over here," Stock demonstrated. "Maybe a little bit deeper against the house. I couldn't pump it out anymore with the sump pump."
Several residents said they have not seen water problems like this in Sheboygan since a flood here in the late 1990s.
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