Flooding in the Midwest led to the deaths of at least two people, the collapse of a railroad bridge, and widespread evacuations and rescues due to rising waters following heavy rains over several days.
In Spencer, Iowa, an Illinois man tragically died on Saturday after his truck was swept away by the Little Sioux River when he tried to go around a barricade, according to a report from Sioux City’s KTIV-TV on Monday. Officials recovered his vehicle but faced dangerous conditions retrieving his body, which was not recovered until Monday.
Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota confirmed at least one death in her state due to the flooding, although specific details were not provided.
The flooding compounded the challenges faced by communities in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota already enduring a prolonged heat wave. Some areas affected by flooding experienced temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 Celsius) on Monday afternoon.
Over 3 million people reside in areas affected by the flooding, stretching from Omaha, Nebraska, to St. Paul, Minnesota.
Many families on Falls Park in Sioux Falls (Via Franklin Myers/Getty Images)
The storms dumped substantial rainfall from Thursday to Saturday, with up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) reported south of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, according to the National Weather Service.
Even areas with less rainfall dealt with increased water levels moving downstream. More rain is expected, and many rivers may not reach their peak until later this week, draining into the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The Missouri River is anticipated to crest in Omaha on Thursday, according to Kevin Low, a hydrologist with the weather service.
In the Omaha area, flooding on Monday prompted Amtrak to temporarily use buses for passenger transport, as reported by an Amtrak spokesperson.
Residents like 71-year-old Hank Howley of North Sioux City, South Dakota, expressed unease as they gathered on a levee along the swollen Big Sioux River, where the collapsed railroad bridge was located. Despite being on higher ground herself, Howley noted the widespread flooding in town, admitting, “It makes me nervous, even though we’re on the highest spot.”
