RACINE - Officials in Racine are asking people near the Root River to stay out of the area due to flooding from this weekend’s storms. "The situation is unstable. For that reason, we would like people to seriously consider leaving their homes because if it gets worse, the truth is, we may not be able to get in their in a timely manner to get folks out,” Kevin Bush of the Racine Fire Department said. All morning long Monday, fire fighters were going door to door evacuating homes near the Root River. Officials are not letting anyone into the area. They say they haven't seen the Root River this high since the late 60's. Now, people who live near it are scrambling to save their homes. The race is on in Racine as people sand bag, trying to save their homes from the rising river. "It's never been like that,” Racine resident Otis Jones said. Jones’ backyard has been swallowed up by the Root River, along with his bushes, trees and his basement. TODAY’S TMJ4’s Jay Olstad: “From top to bottom it’s submerged?” “Yep, we lost everything we had down in there,” Jones said. He used every ounce of strength from his 76-year-old body to save his house Monday morning, but with the river's growing appetite he may have to evacuate, much like Minnie Parhan and her family did early Monday morning. "We were sleeping and she came in and woke us up and said 'we got to evacuate,'" Parhan said. Since it wasn't a mandatory evacuation, others decided to stay home and wait it out. It's something the Racine Fire Department is strongly discouraging. Like Jones, they say put up the good fight but know when you’re down for the count and leave. "If the water gets up here, I’m out of here,” Jones said. Unfortunately, Jones’ home is not the only house that's having problems near the Root River. People all over the area are seeing the same thing and now people are wondering what Mother Nature will dish out next. The Root River is also overflowing its banks in Milwaukee. Part of 27th Street was closed during the morning rush Monday morning.