Dangerous Flooding in Our Area – Updated

12:00 noon

(Le Mars) — The area rivers are beginning to recede. Those are the comments from local authorities as they continue to monitor the flooding waters involving the Floyd, Big Sioux, and the Rock Rivers. Last evening, many residents of Rock Valley were evacuated from their homes as the flood waters kept getting higher. Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo has declared a state of
emergency for the city of Rock Valley. In a release, Van Otterloo said “despite the best efforts of the 400 plus volunteers on Thursday evening, we were not able to hold the water back. The flood is responsible for the derailment of a Burlington Northern Sante Fe train near the Lyon County – Sioux County border near the community of Doon. A total of 35 tanker rail cars carrying oil have left the tracks. Reports of some of the derailed tankers are leaking. Plymouth County Emergency Management Director, Duane Walhof says most of the rivers are showing signs of dropping from their previous levels.

Walhof says there probably won’t be a need to conduct any sandbagging for Le Mars and Merrill.

The Plymouth County Emergency Management Director says the Big Sioux River between Hawarden and Akron is also showing signs of receding, though he admits it may be difficult to get into South Dakota.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has declared several counties as disaster areas, but Walhof says he doesn’t plan to submit any paperwork for a similar designation for Plymouth County.

Walhof says he has been in contact with his colleagues to the north of us, and explains their situation.

 

7:00 a.m.

(Le Mars) — Flood waters continue to rise on area rivers in northwest Iowa.
The flood is responsible for the derailment of a Burlington Northern Sante Fe train near the Lyon County – Sioux County border near the community of Doon.
A total of 35 tanker rail cars carrying oil have left the tracks. Reports of some of the derailed tankers are leaking. The town of Rock Valley has been forced to evacuate. Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo has declared a state of emergency for the city of Rock Valley. In a release, Van Otterloo said “despite the best efforts of the 400 plus volunteers on Thursday evening, we
were not able to hold the water back. Iowa Department of Transportation officials have closed Highway 60 northbound near Le Mars at the Fedder’s Marine and R-V due to flood waters from the Floyd River that has crossed the highway.  Troy Clouse of the Iowa Department of Transportation updates the situation.

Authorities are watching the Floyd River closely, near Le Mars. Indications are the Floyd River has risen a couple of feet overnight, and is expected to exceed its banks yet this morning.  Le Mars Fire Chief offers an update regarding the Floyd River near Le Mars.

Recreational Trail Bridge.

Floyd River near Madison Avenue — Old Highway 60.

Water over the recreational trail near the new Wastewater Treatment Facility

Aerial photos near Alton.

Le Mars Little League Ball Parks Affected By The Floyd River Flood Waters.

 

Expanding Floyd River Closes In On Le Mars Airport.

All Alton aerial photos courtesy of Wade Huisman.

Train Derailment photo courtesy of Sioux County Emergency Services.

Floyd River photos courtesy of Le Mars Fire Department, and Tom Mullally with Le Mars Municipal Airport.

For information regarding which highways are closed due to the flood waters, you can visit the Iowa Department of Transportation website at www.iowa511.com.