Advertisement
Houston County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service asked residents in the Winnebago Valley Area southeast of Caledonia, Minn., and Brownsville, Minn., to evacuate because of rising water about 5 p.m. Sunday. The Houston County Sheriff’s office released a no-travel advisory Sunday night, recommending that no one travel in the county unless it is an emergency.
A flash flood watch was issued by the National Weather Service for Dodge, Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona counties about 3 p.m. Sunday until about midnight.
Campers staying at DunRomin’ Park Campground, located about 41/2 miles south of Caledonia, Minn., were evacuated to the Caledonia City Auditorium about 5 p.m. after the park began to flood. Rising water damaged several vehicles, with park visitors worried their vehicles had been washed away.
A bridge at the entrance to the park on DunRomin’ Drive washed out, and about 62 campers were evacuated by the Caledonia Fire Department from a former dry river bed that flooded up to 15 feet, according to the Caledonia Fire Department.
Residents walked up a bluff and through muddy farm fields, with several losing their shoes. Firefighters were forced to pull some residents out of the mud and carry some small children.
“I was lucky, because I tied my shoes tight enough,” said Colleen Taft, of St. Paul Park, Minn.
Members of the Red Cross provided campers with water and supplies while they waited for friends and family to arrive. Residents in Brownsville were also urged to evacuate to the Brownsville Community Center.
The National Weather Service released a flood warning Sunday for the Root River near Houston, Minn., stating it forecasted the river to rise above flood stage by this evening. The river is expected to fall below flood stage by late Tuesday afternoon.
Flooding affected other areas in Minnesota, along with many parts of Northern Iowa. Parts of Fillmore County were flooded, and a small number of residents in Preston were evacuated, according to the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office. Roads in downtown Spring Valley were flooded, and Highway 63 was closed.
Governor Tim Pawlenty will tour damage caused by flooding in Houston County this morning.
