Topic: Flooding in SE MN, Local pics

[Kframe]

Like many towns in southern MN, mine has been swamped by record rains and flooding over the past week.
Today I hopped on the CB and headed out and about to see what I could see, and what barriers I could get around.

This first one is an aerial shot I found on the city's website (northfield.org) and the rest I took.
Keep in mind, the crest was two days ago and the level has already dropped by 3 feet.










This one is taken from the concrete bridge seen in the aerial shot, the red lines are the normal bank.










No kidding!





We've had a dozen small businesses devastated by this 100-year flood, and the clean up is going to take a long time, complicated by the coming cold weather.  

On a happy note, the CB550 with Roadriders did very well on the waterlogged gravel and dirt roads!
Got some strange looks from some farmers, they probably don't see many street bikes in their neck of the woods!
 
-K

[Bob Wessner]

I've been following this story, hard to imagine. I heard today one town, or part if it, is threatened by the failure of a 120 yr. old earthen levee.

[Kframe]

Yeah that's about an hour SE of me.  Compared to some areas, we really actually got pretty lucky.
-K

[Steve F]

Wow, that's some serious water.       I've been fortunate to live in an area that doesn't flood, so I can't relate to the miserable feeling of having your property and belonings destroyed by flood.  I only hope that those that were involved had insurance.
On another note, I'll be traveling to Minneapolis on Thursday from Chicago area, and I'm wondering if there any areas I should avoid?

[Kframe]

Wow, that's some serious water.       I've been fortunate to live in an area that doesn't flood, so I can't relate to the miserable feeling of having your property and belonings destroyed by flood.  I only hope that those that were involved had insurance.
On another note, I'll be traveling to Minneapolis on Thursday from Chicago area, and I'm wondering if there any areas I should avoid?

Well, Minneapolis hasn't reported any issues (yet) but sister city St.Paul is having some problems in the low lying areas near where the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers merge. 
The majority of the (serious) flooding is in the southern quarter of the state.

One of the worst problems with floodwater is that it is absolutely filthy.  During floods the sewage treatment centers are overwhelmed and raw sewage ends up being shunted right into the rivers. 
(So don't be like the dumb college students in my town and go swimming in the soccer fields.    )
-K

[cafe550]

its been bad around here also since all that rain you guys got up in mn is comming down to south dakota

this is a pic i took the other day when i was out for a ride

county road just outside hawarden ia big sioux river

[Kframe]

its been bad around here also since all that rain you guys got up in mn is comming down to south dakota

this is a pic i took the other day when i was out for a ride

county road just outside hawarden ia big sioux river

Gee, that picture looks familiar!

 
-K

[hotpocket]

^ dude that's trippy

[Steve F]

its been bad around here also since all that rain you guys got up in mn is comming down to south dakota

this is a pic i took the other day when i was out for a ride

county road just outside hawarden ia big sioux river

Gee, that picture looks familiar!

 
-K

Weird!  Hate your neighbor?   just roll your bike into his yard and watch it flood! 

[Kframe]

^^^

Neighbor?  Naw, that's a public road with fields on both sides. 
-K

[cafe550]

those pics do look similer thats cool

[MidTNJasonF]

Yeah sorry to hear so many are having problems up there. Our thoughts are with all those affected. After the flooding here early this year and after I spent days ripping out soggy drywall, gutting houses, and hauling off sewage soaked debris I watch these stories much closer and with more respect now.

[74cb750]

Sorry to hear about the floods in the midwest.
Nows the time for the east coast to be inundated.
So far my corner of Vermont is not flooded, but
many soccer games have been canceled this week.

[cb350twin]

All that water is coming down the Mississippi River coming down here. I noticed the river right it really close to its banks. Right now it's at 14.11ft it's expected to crest at 16.6 ft Oct 6th. Flood stage is 15ft here so there won't a whole a lot of damage here just some of the park and parking lots under water and maybe a little sand bagging.

Davenport IA is the largest city on the Mississippi River without a flood wall or levee. Here some Photos of Davenport with the water at the 21 to 23 ft mark, a temporary levee is built on River Drive (US 67).

[cafe550]

wow thats crazy right there

[Kframe]

No kidding!
That's a LOT of water, holy crud!

Y'know, one thing that most of us land-dwellers seriously underestimate (in general) is the massive power of water, especially if it has any velocity to it. 
Every year, in every flood here in MN, at least a couple people bite it when they try to drive or walk across a short span of knee high water and get washed away.  It's tragic, but really, it's all over the news every time, and always they warn people, but it keeps happening.   
-K