This image provided by Sioux County Sheriff shows City of Rock Valley, Iowa on Saturday, June 22, 2024. in northwest Iowa. Rock Valley, the hardest hit community, saw more than four inches of rainfall in less than 90 minutes. On Sunday,submitted a request for an expedited presidential disaster declaration for the hardest hit counties. The governor has already declared a state disaster for 22 counties in Iowa.
At a news conference Sunday afternoon, Gov. Reynolds said nearly 2,000 properties were impacted by the flooding, and that hundreds of those homes were destroyed. State officials are still working to determine the impact for farmers in the area.The heavy rain that fell overnight into Saturday morning is now receding and moving downstream. Many waterways are already under flood warnings in areas where record flooding is expected to occur, surpassing the current records set in 1993.
Officials warn flood forecasts will change by the hour as the threat of more rain across the state could change current forecasted levels. "This flood is not over," said Iowa Homeland Security Director John Benson, "if you are on the Missouri River and surrounding rivers, please pay attention to the forecast."Officials are now in contact with their counterparts in eastern Iowa as flood waters are also moving downstream from northern Iowa.
"The concern is that we remain in an active weather pattern." said Donna Dubberke, Meteorologist in Charge at the National Weather Service in Des Moines. Dubberke said those who look at flooding forecasts need to keep in mind that not all of the rain forecasted to fall in the coming days is factored into the forecast. As of Sunday afternoon, major flooding occurred along the Cedar River in Charles City, but forecasts currently do not predict major flooding downstream.