Residents of southwestern Iowa latest to be evacuated as Missouri River flows through and over levees in several Midwestern states.
CORRECTS MONTH TO MARCH NOT MAY - The Elkhorn River consumes a section of western Douglas County Sunday, March 17, 2019, in Omaha, Neb. Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes in Nebraska and Iowa as levees succumbed to the rush of water.
While river depths were starting to level off in parts of Nebraska on Sunday, the water is so high in many places that serious flooding is expected to remain for several days. And downstream communities in Kansas and Missouri were bracing for likely flooding. “This wasn’t a gradual rise,” Crecelius said. “It’s flowing fast and it’s open country — there’s nothing there to slow it down.”Lucinda Parker of Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management said nearly 2,000 people have been evacuated at eight Iowa locations since flooding began late last week. Most were staying with friends or family. Seven shelters set up for flood victims held just a couple dozen people Saturday night.
In hard-hit Sarpy County, Nebraska, up to 500 homes have been damaged, including some cabins along a lake, said Greg London of the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office. The damage followed breaches of levees along the Platte River on Thursday and Saturday, and a Missouri River levee break on Thursday. The two rivers converge there.“This area’s had flooding before but not of this magnitude,” London said. “This is unprecedented.”At least two people have died in the floodwaters.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rescues, evacuations as floodwaters breach levees in MidwestAuthorities were using boats and large vehicles on Saturday to rescue and evacuate residents in parts of the Midwest where a recent deluge of rainwater and snowmelt was sent pouring over frozen ground, overwhelming creeks and rivers, and killing at least one person. Rescue efforts in eastern Nebraska
Read more »
Rescues, evacuations as floodwaters breach levees in MidwestNEW: Officials confirm that 2 people have died in Nebraska due to flooding after a recent deluge of rainwater and snowmelt was sent pouring over frozen ground, overwhelming creeks and rivers.
Read more »
Two dead and one missing amid ‘historic’ flooding across the MidwestForecasters warned of 'major and historical river flooding' as governors declared states of emergency.
Read more »
Historic floods kill three, force hundreds from homes across MidwestU.S. Strategic Command sent all but critical personnel home as two-thirds of its home base in Nebraska was overrun.
Read more »
Emergencies declared across Midwest amid ‘historic’ floodingForecasters warned of 'major and historical river flooding' as governors declared states of emergency.
Read more »