Portage, WI Skyrockets in Popularity: 7 Surprising Reasons Tourists and Homebuyers Are Flocking in 2026

Portage, Wis. – Residents along the Wisconsin River are facing record-setting floods as a series of spring storms push water well above major-flood stage. Emergency officials ordered a mandatory evacuation of the Blackhawk Park area in the Town of Caledonia after concerns grew over the stability of the Caledonia Levee; police, fire, and EMS crews warn they can no longer reach the neighborhood if conditions worsen. Floodwaters already cover big sections of Conant Street and Edgewater Street in Portage, forcing homeowners to pump basements nonstop and stack sandbags around foundations. “This is the highest I’ve ever seen the river,” said longtime resident Willoughby Watson while watching waves lap over the sidewalk. Portage Fire Chief Troy Haase urged anyone still in low-lying zones to “get out while they can,” noting that a levee breach would leave streets accessible only by boat. The city has opened Portage City Hall (115 W. Pleasant St.) as an overnight shelter, and Columbia County Emergency Management set up a hotline at 608-745-5513 for evacuation help. Key closures and safety tips • Numerous stretches of Highway 33 and County Highway JV are barricaded; drivers are urged to turn around at any water-covered pavement. • Crews continue fortifying levees with additional sandbag walls, but more rain in the weekend forecast could send the Wisconsin River to an unprecedented crest. • Officials stress that homeowners should document damage for insurance, keep utilities shut off in flooded basements, and beware of contractor scams after waters recede. What’s next The National Weather Service predicts additional thunderstorms through Sunday night; each round has the potential to add several inches of runoff to an already swollen river system. If projections hold, Portage could break the 2008 flood record before levels begin a slow fall late next week. Residents can pick up pre-filled sandbags at the Portage Municipal Garage and monitor real-time river gauges at water.noaa.gov. For emergency updates, follow @PortageFire and @ColumbiaCountyEM on social media and sign up for CodeRED text alerts.