Des Moines, Iowa, a picturesque city known for its vibrant culture and welcoming community, has recently been in the grips of extreme weather. The upper Midwest has been hit with a devastating combination of torrential rain, scorching heat, and record-breaking floods, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
The latest jarring example of this extreme weather is the collapse of a house owned by the Barnes family into the Blue Earth River near Mankato, Minnesota. The video of the house teetering on the edge of an eroding riverbank before falling into the flood-swollen river has shocked and saddened many. Thankfully, the family had evacuated the house before the collapse, but the emotional toll of losing their home must be overwhelming.
Jenny Barnes, whose family has run the nearby Dam Store for decades, spoke about the difficult situation her family is facing. “It’s been a very scary and hard situation,” she said in an interview with KARE-TV before the house fell into the river. She also expressed her concern for the store, which is not just a business but their livelihood. The loss of their home and business is a devastating blow to the Barnes family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.
But the Barnes family is not alone in their struggle. A swath through Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota has been hit by floods, leaving behind a path of destruction. The heavy rains, with some areas receiving up to 46 centimeters, have caused rivers to reach record levels and put a strain on the infrastructure of these states. Hundreds of people have been rescued, and at least two have tragically lost their lives after driving in flooded areas.
As if the floods were not enough, Midwesterners had to deal with tornado warnings, flash flooding, and large hail on Tuesday night. The National Weather Service reported several tornadoes in Iowa and Nebraska, and they are assessing the damage to confirm whether they touched down. While there have been reports of damage to buildings, crops, and trees, thankfully, there have been no major injuries reported.
The weather service has also extended flood warnings for multiple rivers in the region. On Tuesday, floodwaters breached levees in Iowa, creating dangerous conditions that prompted evacuations. The ongoing floods have also brought record-high river levels, exceeding previous crests by an average of about 1 meter in more than a dozen locations in South Dakota and Iowa. The Big Sioux River, for example, reached nearly 12 meters in Hawarden, Iowa, and almost 14 meters in Sioux City, Iowa, surpassing previous highs by 1.5 to 2.1 meters, respectively.
The situation has become so dire that Missouri Gov. Mike Parson declared a state of emergency on Wednesday in anticipation of Missouri River flooding. As the floodwaters continue to rise, the governor’s proactive measures will help mitigate the damage and keep the residents of Missouri safe.
In South Dakota, Kathy Roberts lost almost everything she had when she had to escape from the floods with just her cat and the clothes on her back. In an interview with KTIV-TV, she described the terrifying moment when she heard her neighbors screaming and saw water rushing into their place. In her residential area in North Sioux City, streets collapsed, utility poles and trees were toppled, and some homes were washed off their foundations. With no water, sewer, gas, or electrical services, the residents of this area are facing a difficult challenge. Our hearts go out to Kathy and her fellow residents, and we hope they will soon find a way to rebuild their lives.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem took to social media to warn people to stay away from the flooded areas unless escorted by public safety officials. In a post on the social platform X on Tuesday night, she said, “We are working on a schedule for families to get their belongings. Until then, downed power lines, sinkholes, and other threats make it too dangerous to go in alone.” We applaud Governor Noem’s efforts to keep her citizens safe and urge everyone to follow her advice.
The sheriff’s office in Monona County, near the Nebraska border, reported that the Little Sioux River breached levees in several areas. In neighboring Woodbury County, the sheriff’s office posted drone footage on Facebook showing the river overflowing the levee and flooding land in rural Smithland. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported so far.
In the Sioux City, Iowa,
