Flood-ravaged Rock Valley ready for volunteer help
Rock Valley in Sioux County, among the hardest-hit cities so far in Iowa's flooding disaster, is ready for some help.
About 1,500 residents there had to be evacuated Saturday by helicopter after the Rock River breached a levee. The city said on its Facebook page that it had received numerous offers of help but that it had to turn down offers of assistance from volunteers because of safety risks.
On Monday, however, it will begin putting to work anyone willing to lend a hand.
City spokesperson Kris Gesink said volunteers can gather beginning at 9 a.m., parking in the east lot at the Cooperative Farmers Elevator at 1219 Main St.
Gesink said the water appeared to be receding Sunday morning, but that it was necessary to conduct structural inspections of affected buildings to ensure their safety. "If volunteers are going to enter structures, then those can’t be compromised,” she said.
The helpers will be put to work removing garbage, clearing houses and retrieving abandoned vehicles, she said, adding that the community already has come together to help the residents who were displaced.
“Volunteers have been housing, creating donations centers, giving resources to the churches that are housing the people who’ve been displaced,” she said. “We have a great community."
In Spencer, river's extreme rise caught city by surprise
The Rock in Rock Valley was just one of several northwest and north Iowa rivers that reached record levels after several days of heavy rain.
In Spencer, Mayor Steve Bomgaars said in a Sunday new conference that the city had expected the Little Sioux River to crest at 17 1/2 feet, but it in fact went much higher.
"The city and all emergency teams had to pivot and switch gears as the flood reached epic proportions," Bomgaars said.
Spencer Fire Chief Jesse Coulson said rescues began Saturday morning, eventually totaling 383 people.
Sewer and water services, as well as some power and phone lines, remained out of commission Sunday. Public works director Mark White said that before damages can be assessed, the sewer system needs to be drained of excess water.
White also asked residents to refrain from taking matters into their own hands by pumping water from their basements. He explained that the surrounding soil is often still under high pressure from the flooding and that walls without an equal pressure of water on both sides can be damaged ― something that’s already happened three times.
Eric Tigges, emergency management coordinator for Clay County, said the flood waters need to drop 3 to 4 feet before assessments and repairs can begin. Only after that can residents begin returning to their homes.
“We want people to go home more than anything,” Tigges said. “We just got to make sure it’s safe for them to do so first.”
In other developments:
Spencer, on its Facebook page, warned residents to be aware of donation scams, and cautioned them to give only through websites coordinated with the city's official Facebook page or businesses they know and trust.
Beuna Vista County emergency management announced a town hall meeting for Sioux Rapids residents at 7 p.m. Tuesday at First Lutheran Church, 716 First St., to provide information and answer questions about flood damage.
In Dickinson County, home of Spirit Lake and Lake Okoboji, boaters were limited to 5 mph as water levels rose.
Forest City police put out an urgent call for help filling sandbags in a neighborhood on the banks of the Winnebago River. "We are looking for volunteers to help fill sandbags at 104 South Oakmont Dr immediately. Anyone willing to help is asked to park on Country Club Rd or in the Bear Creek parking lot due to road construction. Thank you!"
In the Sioux City suburb of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, emergency managers were calling for a voluntary evacuation. The community is sandwiched between the Missouri River, which is approaching minor flooding, and the Big Sioux River, which is expected to rise 11 feet to crest Monday or early Tuesday at a record 41 feet. "If there is a major breach or overtopping of Dunes protection... a mandatory evacuation will be required immediately," officials wrote in an update.
Ryan Magalhães is a reporter for the Register. Reach them at rmagalhaes@dmreg.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Rock Valley, ravaged by flood, seeks volunteer help
