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Heavy rains have once again caused flooding in Southwest Iowa. And in Northwest Iowa, there are fears of flooding as well. Releases have been increased this week at Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, South Dakota.
As a precaution downstream, the Dakota Dunes Community Improvement District is asking residents and businesses to lower water and sewer use. They also want people to plug all lower level drain pipes to keep sewers from backing up in basements.
People in southwest Iowa are preparing for more flooding.
officials worry that recent heavy rains and rising river levels could push even more water beyond now-useless flood barriers.
South of highway-34 in Mills County, there’s a 1200-foot breach on a levee. Fixing it is a priority of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers but that could take until mid-June.
Sheri Bowen with Mills County says that’s one reason the county is being proactive—recommending that some areas prepare to evacuate as the Missouri River is projected to rise again. Bowen says the few people that had moved back into their homes in these areas since the March flooding have heeded the warning.
We’re estimating around 5 families that were actively living in their properties and those families are no longer residing there temporarily.
She adds officials are closely watching Missouri River levels since the county currently has no levee protection.
