Extensive record flooding in Siouxland continues to cause many problems, as people have been flooded out of homes in Sioux City, Spencer, Rodney, Rock Valley, and elsewhere in Northwest Iowa, plus in North Sioux City’s McCook Lake area in southeast South Dakota.
As people hope for a dry period so river levels can continue to fall and areas can dry out, the next substantial chance for rain in Siouxland comes in the latter half of Thursday.
A levee broke Tuesday morning, forcing the evacuation of the small town of Rodney along the Little Sioux River.
The Monona County Sheriff’s office says roads have been closed off to the public after the levee was breached in several spots. Woodbury County Emergency Management is also evacuating the town of Smithland upstream, as a precaution. An emergency shelter has been set up in Onawa to help impacted residents.
Additionally, many roads remain closed, including parts of Highways 71 and 20 in Northwest Iowa, which made one person from Cherokee County have to make a 170-mile round trip to-and-from work.
Later on Tuesday, portions of Interstates 29 and 680 north Council Bluffs will close, as all the water flows south and impacts the Missouri River. The Iowa Department of Transportation said the exact timing of the Interstates closures depends on how quickly the Missouri River rises.
The Missouri River is expected to crest in a moderate flood stage later this week.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds on Monday evening issued a joint request for people to remain off the Missouri River in the coming days.
Federal Emergency Management Agency teams on Tuesday began visiting shelters and neighborhoods in Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth, and Sioux counties on Tuesday to help survivors of record flooding.
The White House has approved a federal disaster declaration for a portion of the Iowa counties where Governor Reynolds had requested assistance.
The presidential disaster declaration currently covers Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth and Sioux Counties where some of the worst flooding took place in towns including Spencer, Rock Valley and Hawarden.
The announcement frees up assistance to individuals and small businesses to help cover costs such as temporary housing and medical expenses.
Reynolds plans to continue seeking assistance for other counties once more information about flood damage is gathered.
Reynolds toured five Northwest Iowa towns on Monday, including Rock Valley. Rock Valley residents living in 500 homes are dealing with flood damage. Some lost everything, including Cheri Gacke, who faced flooding ten years ago.
Gacke plans to move after living through a previous flood.
“I hope the city comes up with something that's going to fix this town because our town is going to die. Otherwise, I think we can't keep doing this every few years. No, people can't afford it. You can't live here," she said.
Gacke said she and many of her other neighbors didn’t have flood insurance.
On Monday, Reynolds shared impressions on a post to Twitter/X, “Like many flooded areas, Rock Rapids officials are working to identify short & long-term housing needs. 75% of homes & 24 businesses were impacted, plus schools & county fairground. Impressed with local leaders & the big heart of this small town. We’ll get through this together.”
The Big Sioux River crested at a new record level of 46 feet on Monday morning, well above the prior record of 37.7 feet. Sioux City officials have opened the Tyson Event Center for people in Riverside needing a place to shelter, while the Red Cross is directing others to about 10 schools and churches.
*The Iowa Utilities Board has granted approval for the proposed CO2 pipeline by Summit Carbon Solutions in the state.
The order set on Tuesday grants the right of eminent domain for the project, so that Summit could build the pipeline on property where landowners have not signed on with the plan.
The decision by the three-member board was unanimous.
Summit’s pipeline would cross 29 counties and connect with 30 ethanol plants in Iowa.
In a statement, Summit calls the approval a “significant milestone” for the ethanol industry which views the project as a path into markets for low-carbon fuels such as sustainable aviation fuel.
Summit has said the project would be the largest of its kind in the US with 2,500 miles of pipe across five states.
The company must acquire a $100 million dollar insurance policy to cover any damage caused by construction and operation of the pipeline.
Construction cannot start until some final filings are reviewed by the IUB and pipeline permits are approved in North Dakota and South Dakota.
*Additionally, on the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs decision taking place Monday, Planned Parenthood North Central States says it’s planning to expand services at some clinics, including in Iowa.
Last year, Planned Parenthood closed three of its Iowa clinics, in Cedar Falls, Council Bluffs, and the south side of Des Moines.
Ruth Richardson is president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States. Richardson said the organization is working to expand its remaining Des Moines clinic as well as the one in Omaha.
An Iowa Supreme Court decision is expected this Friday that determines the fate of a state law banning abortion as early as six weeks of pregnancy. Abortion in Iowa remains legal up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
