Flooding continues in northwest Iowa as heavy rains caused rivers to surge to record levels. Residents already flooded are starting to clean up while those downstream are bracing for high waters.
Follow along for updates.
More:'I lost everything,' one Rock Valley resident says. More flooding is expected across Iowa
Rumor control: Dam failure in Minnesota won't affect Des Moines
The National Weather Service in Des Moines says it's trying to tamp down on rumors that dam issues in Mankanto, Minnesota, and a levee overtopping in northwest Iowa will affect central Iowa.
Both rivers drain away from the area.
The Rapidan Dam along the Blue Earth River had a partial failure but as of Tuesday afternoon was still intact.
“The Blue Earth River flows north to the Minnesota River, which then goes towards the Twin Cities and meets the Mississippi River,” NWS senior hydrologist Jeff Zogg said.
And while a Little Sioux River levee was overtopped, causing flash flooding, that also will not impact central Iowa.
“It drains to the Missouri River, and then forms the western border of the state and eventually drains south towards the Mississippi,” Zogg said.
Spencer finally sees some receding floodwaters
The floodwater in Spencer has gone down about a foot since Monday, Clay County officials said on Tuesday afternoon.
Spencer city officials are currently working on how to get their lift pumps functioning as water levels in the city decrease, Sheriff Chris Raveling said. Red Cross officials are currently nearby helping those that have been displaced.
“The president finally signed the disaster relief grant, so we’ve been making progress,” Raveling said.
There is not yet an estimate on how many homes were damaged in the flooding, he said, but more than 380 residents that were evacuated since Saturday.
Spencer sits at the convergence of the Little Sioux and Ocheyedan rivers, the latter of which surpassed its record set in 1953 by 4 feet. It has since fell 6 feet, according to the National Water Prediction Service. The Little Sioux barely missed its record by .02 feet and it has since fallen about 2 ½ feet.
Despite one fatality of a man whose truck was swept away in floodwaters on Saturday, the city of Spencer is already making strides, Raveling said.
“The amount of people who pitched in and got together to evacuate people in Spencer,” Raveling said, "we had people coming in from all over with boats to get people out. The amount of support we’ve been receiving is amazing.”
Record flooding in north central Iowa
The West Fork Des Moines River at Humboldt is expected to crest Wednesday evening about 1 foot higher than its record, according to the National Water Prediction Service. Record flooding already has been observed upstream in Estherville and Emmetsburg.
Officials unsure if Smithland levee breached
Woodbury County officials said at a new conference on Tuesday they are unsure if the levee in Smithland broke or if water overtopped it. They won't be able to know until water from the Little Sioux River recedes.
Some roads in Cedar Falls close as Cedar River rises
Cedar Falls is currently experiencing mild flooding from the Cedar River. The National Water Prediction Service recorded the river at 92.88 feet Tuesday. It is expected to crest at 93.7 feet Wednesday afternoon.
Many roadways in Cedar Falls along the Cedar River are closed because of the flooding.
“Be aware of barriers and signage for your own safety,” Cedar Falls Communications Specialist Amanda Huisman said. “Avoid floodwater and never cross a flooded roadway.”
Recent closuresinclude Highway 218 northbound and the intersection of West 18th Street and Main Street, among other roads near the river.
Regular updates on water levels and road closures are being posted on the NOAA website, Huisman said. Residents are recommended to sign up for flood text alerts from the city of Cedar Falls.
Portions of Saylorville Lake close due to heavy rainfall up north
Back here in central Iowa, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has closed some areas at Saylorville Lake for public safety due to heavy rainfall in northern Iowa and in the Des Moines River watershed.
The closed areas include Cherry Glen Lower Boat Ramp, the lower parking lot at Lakeview High Water Boat Ramp, Oak Grove Beach Access, Sandpiper Boat Ramp, NW Jester Park Drive, Lakeview Main Boat Ramp, and the Neal Smith Trail from Prairie Flower Campground to Saylorville Lake Marina. Closures will remain in effect until lake levels recede.
The Lakeview High Water Boat Ramp and Cherry Glen Upper boat ramps remain open at this time but people should be aware of potential hazards, including submerged structures and floating debris in the lake. Boaters should exercise extreme caution, as debris may not always be visible and could pose risks beneath the water’s surface.
Polk County Emergency Management program assistant Brett McIntyre says the office is monitoring the projected flooding upstream on the Des Moines River in the areas of Fort Dodge and Humboldt, but not expecting any serious impact in the Des Moines area thanks in large part to Saylorville Lake.
"Right now we're not anticipating major impacts in Des Moines, as things stand," he said Tuesday afternoon, besides perhaps some minor flooding that could impact areas like Jester Park and Birdland Drive.
Saylorville, which typically acts as a buffer for major rain events, has enough room to basically absorb the entire flooding event, McIntyre said. As of noon, Saylorville was sitting at 844 feet, according to the National Weather Service's National Water Prediction Service. The flood stage is 884 feet.
McIntyre said it's fortunate that there wasn't heavy rain over the Raccoon River Valley, which can cause larger flooding problems for the area in places like Fleur Drive and Four Mile and Walnut creeks since there's no reservoir.
Saylorville is expected to rise through July 5 and remain high for a while, he said.
DOT updates timing on I-29 closure
The Iowa Department of Transportation now says it will close a portion of Interstate 29 near Council Bluffs later tonight.
It will close I-29 from 25th Street at the north edge of Council Bluffs to the I-29/880 interchange near Loveland. In addition, the portion of I-680 west of I-29 located in Iowa will also be closed.
Those roadways were originally announced to close around 11 a.m. Timing now depends on water levels in the Missouri River, the DOT said.
Little Sioux River near Correctionville lowering
Correctionville officials have been meeting throughout the day in order to plan on how to get residents back to their homes.
Flooding in the city has gone down a few inches since Monday, officials said in a social media post. Officials are still asking residents to limit the use of the sewer system, including showering and using dishwashers.
The city’s pump station is still currently under water as of late Tuesday morning.
The Little Sioux River crested at 30.7 feet at 9 p.m. Monday in Correctionville, about 1.5 feet above the record, according to the National Water Prediction Service. It was at 29 feet Tuesday morning.
"We realize everybody is going to be eager and wanting to get back in as soon as possible, but there is still major flooding and it could be a little while before you are fully allowed into your homes," the Facebook post said.
Flooding closes casino in northwestern Iowa
The WinnaVegas Casino and Resort outside of Sloan closed Tuesday due to flooding "as an abundance of caution," it posted on its Facebook page.
The general manager told KTIV in Sioux City the entrance road is partially covered with water and is expected to continue to rise.
“The safety of our associates and our guests is paramount” WinnaVegas General Manager Tom Teesdale told the TV station. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the rising flood waters. Our hope is that all of Siouxland quickly recovers.”
Drone video in Smithland shows extensive flooding
The Woodbury County Sheriff's Office posted drone video to Facebook that shows extensive flooding from the Little Sioux River, which breached a levee Tuesday morning.
The video shows water overtopping roads, homes and farms. Residents there and in Rodney were asked to evacuate.
All bridges crossing the Little Sioux River in Woodbury County are closed, including Highway 141, a vital link that connects Sioux City to midsized towns like Mapleton and Denison.
Travel still not advised in some northwest Iowa counties
Travel continues to be discouraged across parts of northwest Iowa as floodwaters block roads.
The Iowa Department of Public Transportation strongly discourages travel in Lyon, Sioux, O'Brien, Clay, Emmet, Dickinson, Cherokee, Woodbury and Plymouth counties. More than a dozen roads around those counties are closed.
Find more road closures here:Flooding forces dozens of Iowa road closures. Here's where to avoid.
Riverside residents wait to enter homes after flooding
Residents in the Riverside neighborhood of Sioux City waited anxiously by the banks of the Big Sioux River to watch the receding floodwaters from their homes.
The Sioux City Fire Department used an inflatable boat to retrieve medical devices for residents. Deanna Mercure told the Register her home was flooded Monday after a levee protecting the neighborhood from the Big Sioux was overtopped. Mercure returned to the neighborhood Tuesday to see how floodwaters were retreating.
Roads in the Riverside neighborhood were still closed due to the flooding.
According to the city of Sioux City, the Big Sioux River reached 44.5 feet on Monday afternoon, about ½ foot lower than the highest point. Water overtopped the levee on North River Drive and17people were evacuated by boat from the flooded area. Once the water stops entering the levee area, it will take several hours for the pumps to lower the water levels, the city said.
The BNSF railroad bridge that collapsed into the Big Sioux River on Sunday connects to the Riverside neighborhood.
Elsewhere in Sioux City, floodwaters along the Missouri River affected some parks on the riverfront and baseball and soccer fields in neighboring South Sioux City, Nebraska. But flood effects on the Missouri River were expected to be minimal.
MidAmerican working to repair substation in Rock Valley
A MidAmerican substation near 13thAvenue and 14th Street in Rock Valley experienced water damage due to record-level flooding that forced evacuations. The substation was not destroyed and doesn't need to be demolished. MidAmerican crews are working on the local circuits. Temporary mobile substations were deployed over the weekend.
"That enabled us on Saturday evening to restore those customers in the area who could safely receive electric service," Geoff Greenwood, MidAmerican media relations manager, said in an email to the Register.
In the coming weeks, MidAmerican will be doing more clean up in the area and working on permanent repair efforts at the substation. Power restoration estimates will vary because it depends on the conditions of each property, Greenwood said.
"Some customers may be without service simply because they asked to be turned off due to their own safety concerns, while another town may have the same number of outages but those customers sustained major damage at their property or even a total loss," Greenwood said.
As of 9 a.m. Tuesday, more than 500 homes were without power in the Sioux City area and 115 in the Cherokee and Rock Valley area, according to MidAmerican's power outage map.
Rock Valley posted on Facebook it is working to get water service restored. It has passed one bacteria test and will need to flush hydrants before water is turned back on.
"We are busting our butts to get this done! We all want the water back on!," the post said.
President Biden issues disaster declaration for some counties
Federal disaster funding is now available for Iowans affected storms that started June 16.
The assistance covers grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs for individuals and businesses recovery. Iowa counties that qualify for the benefits include: Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth and Sioux.
Another form of federal funding is available to state, tribal, eligible local governments and certain nonprofits on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal. Counties that can take advantage of this funding include Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth and Sioux.
Cost-sharing federal funs can also be accessed for hazard mitigation measures across the state. People and businesses who experienced damage and losses in the designated areas can apply for assistances by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. FEMA also has an app for mobile devices.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued state disaster declarations for 28 counties so far: Allamakee, Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Fremont, Hanco*ck, Harrison, Humboldt, Kossuth, Lyon, Mills, Monona, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Pottawattamie, Sioux, Webster, Winnebago, Woodbury, Worth and Wright counties.
Levee breached along Little Sioux River with evacuations
The Monona County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents that live along the Little Sioux River to evacuate after a levee failed.
The town of Rodney has been closed off to the public and was evacuated as of 7:30 a.m., Monona County authorities said. Everyone is asked to stay out of the area during this time.
The city of Onawa will be opening a community center for the residents of Smithland and Rodney for shelter, the sheriff’s office said.
The Little Sioux River crested at 30.7 feet at 9 p.m. Monday north in Correctionville, about 1.5 feet above the record, according to the National Water Prediction Service.
Interstate 29 closing Tuesday at 11 a.m.
The Iowa Department of Transportation is closing Interstate 29 north of Council Bluffs from 25th Street to the I-29/880 interchange near Loveland at approximately 11 a.m.
It also is closing the portion of I-680 west of I-29 located in Iowa.
Timing of the closures will depend on rising flood water levels on the Missouri River, which is expected to crest at Omaha at moderate flood stage, 35.3 feet, at 1 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Water Prediction Service.
Once the roadway is closed you will follow a signed detour that will start at the I-29/880 interchange near Loveland, continue east to the I-80/880 interchange, and then southwest on I-80 to Council Bluffs. If you are driving between Iowa and Nebraska, you should use I-80. Local traffic in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area should follow the signed detour.
Check Iowa 511 for road closure updates.
More:How to help Iowa flooding victims: Here are the supplies they need
Graphics show how much water inundated Iowa rivers
Graphics from this weekend's flooding show the extent of flooding in northwest Iowa.
- In Saturday's flooding, the Rock River in northwest Iowa exceeded its typical volume by more than 100 times.
- At its peak, more water flowed through the Rock River near Rock Valley than flowed through the Mississippi River near Clinton.
- No fewer than nine NOAA river gauges have observed record-high water levels since June 22.
Read more:How bad was the northwest Iowa flooding? 4 graphics illustrate record-setting river levels
