Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota governors all declared emergencies after torrential rains flooded rivers across the region.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers proclaimed a state of emergency in response to not only rain but also hail, severe winds, thunderstorms, and tornadoes. Between June 21 and June 25, there were several waves of storms.
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According to the proclamation, the storms resulted in significant tree and structure damage, road washouts, power outages, and flooding. We want to ensure that people and communities are safe, healthy, and given the support they need to recover swiftly, so that those affected can receive relief.”
The National Weather Service verified that 10 tornadoes touched down in nine Wisconsin counties, with some locations receiving 5 to 6 inches of rainfall. The declaration of emergency enabled the Wisconsin National Guard to help with reaction and recovery efforts.
As several Minnesota municipalities began cleanup efforts, attention remained focused on the Rapidan Dam south of Mankato. On June 24, rushing waves carved out a new channel around the dam, raising worries of an imminent rupture. As of June 25, the 114-year-old dam remained intact, but the Blue Earth River continued to overflow, putting strain on the structure.
According to the National Weather Service, a swath of counties in northwest Iowa, southwestern Minnesota, and southeastern South Dakota received rainfall ranging from 5 to 8 inches in most regions and up to 15 inches in isolated spots.
“An area from about Mitchell, South Dakota, to Albert Lea, Minnesota, may have received the brunt of the flooding, but it is more widespread,” said DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.
He said much of the area was already saturated from early summer rains, making it more likely to flood.
“Heavy rain has been a large nuisance and damaging factor for the northwestern Corn Belt for much of the last couple of months,” Baranick informed reporters.
He also predicted more rain.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has requested an accelerated presidential disaster declaration, allowing access to programs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Small Business Administration, and United States Department of Agriculture.
“While we’re still very early in the response, the projected damage is staggering,” Reynolds said to the audience. “It is estimated that at least 1,900 properties are impacted and hundreds have been destroyed.”
Flooding forced the closure of some highways. Spencer, Iowa, a town of more than 11,400 inhabitants, experienced disastrous flooding over the weekend. Officials issued evacuation orders in Rock Valley, Iowa. According to Iowa officials, floodwater from rivers like the Big and Little Sioux is rushing into the Missouri River, potentially causing downstream flooding.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, like Reynolds, requested that the Minnesota National Guard deploy to Waterville, Minnesota, to deal with flooding on the Cannon River.
“Flooding has left entire communities under feet of water, causing severe damage to property and numerous road closures,” according to Walz.
According to the Star Tribune, the Des Moines River would flood to a record level in Windom, Minnesota.
Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota reported that at least one person has died as a result of severe weather.
“I want to remind everybody to remember the power of water and the flow of water, and to stay away from flooded areas,” Noem concluded.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen directed National Guard helicopters to assist with rescue operations in Iowa.
As of June 24, the US Army Corps of Engineers had forecast floods in the lower Missouri River basin. The Corps is monitoring levees and distributing sandbags.
In Omaha, Nebraska, the National Weather Service anticipates the Missouri River to rise 12 feet to a 35.3-foot peak, comparable to flood levels in 2019.
“We do expect flooding all the way down through Hermann, Missouri,” said Kevin Low of the National Weather Service.
Two major railroads in the region had bridge closures and track damage. The BNSF lost a bridge across the Big Sioux River between Iowa and South Dakota.
“That is the main bridge that goes into Iowa, where a lot of commodities and different materials move throughout the state,” Noem said. “That will have an impact on us for many, many months.”
Before the bridge’s demolition, the railroad had been monitoring the Big Sioux River, according to Kendall Sloan, a BNSF representative.
The engineer said, “We are rerouting all trains via Creston, Iowa.” “We will continue to monitor and inspect conditions in the area and across our network, as well as execute recovery operations as necessary.”
Rail crews in northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota are rebuilding rails damaged by heavy rains and flooding, according to Union Pacific spokeswoman Robynn Tysver. Flooding has forced the closure of several lines.
While estimating crop damage may be premature, the recent deluge already saturated most Missouri River bottom fields.
Kelly Nieuwenhuis, a farmer near Primghar, Iowa, shared videos and photographs on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, reporting inches of rain flooding his fields.
“I believe we’ve set a new rainfall record for a single spring in northwest Iowa!!! He wrote, “It’s a mess.”
Nieuwenhuis stated that 2024 was the wettest year on his farm; however, there were floods in 2018 and 2019. He stated that he believes the tiling he added will be helpful.
“We won’t have a large number of acres affected, but many aren’t as fortunate,” stated the governor. “I’ve got water sitting in places, and if it doesn’t go away soon, those crops will die.”
