The Des Moines Subway Begins Cleaning After "Historical Floods"



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OF THE MONKS, Iowa (KCCI) –

Polk County officials who described the heavy rains and major floods of this weekend as a "historic event" declared that they were planning a cleaning for at least a month.

A series of thunderstorms hit the metropolitan area of ​​Des Moines hard on Saturday night until the early hours of the day, spilling much more than half a foot of rain in some suburban areas, according to a report. the National Weather Service. Larry Cotlar, 66, died when he was swept away by the floodwaters after his truck hit a street north of Des Moines, the Des Moines police sergeant

. Paul Parizek said. His body was found early Sunday a few blocks away

POLK COUNTY RESPONSE

Kelsey Angle, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, said at a Sunday morning press conference that "

Des Moines emergency response officers said that they used additional staff to help about 35 to 40 public helpers, many of whom were rescues from police. water due to vehicles stalled in stagnant water.

Nearly 20,000 MidAmerican customers lost power Saturday night, according to the company's website, but that number dropped significantly by Sunday morning. Click here for the last one.

Asked about the response of Polk County officials to the flash flood, Polk County Emergency Management Director AJ Mumm said, "The resources we needed last night were so immediate that the inflow of resources from any distance other than the metropolitan area was becoming unrealistic. "

" Resource requirements over the next operational period aside, "he said. [19659004] RECOVERY EFFORT

Weather officials said they expect continuous flooding along Walnut and Fourmile creeks, as well as Raccoon River, but the threat of rain is over. and the waters begin to retreat.The Raccoon River at Fleur Drive is expected to continue to decline over the next few days, abandoning the small flood by Tuesday.

The Mayor of Des Moines, Frank Cownie, has insured to the Presidents that & # 39; they could get to work Monday morning. . Municipal authorities are badessing the damage and working to update the road closures, which should be marked.

Once barricaded, roads will remain closed until the water leaves the road, flood damage is badessed, repairs are made and streets are cleaned.

Sunday afternoon closures include East 42nd Street north of Easton Boulevard, Saylor Road through Birdland Marina, Prospect Road, Birdland Drive and George Flagg Parkway.

And Angela Connolly, a member of the Polk County Supervisory Board, said there will be a one-stop shop at 1 pm Monday at 2309 Euclid Avenue help hundreds of displaced people with health services and basic housing, among other things.

A Red Cross spokesman told KCCI that about 100 people stayed in a shelter at Hoyt School in Des Moines during the night. Red Cross workers will help distribute the flood kits and ensure that the mental health needs are correct.

MINE TRANSPORTATION

The Des Moines Regional Transportation Authority, or DART, normally operates on Sunday after the nightly flood, but users should expect delays because many roads make it difficult. 39, object of temporary detours. The roads will return to normal as the roads reopen. Runners with questions should call DART Customer Service at 515-283-8100

ANKENY

Ankeny received the weight of the storm force and saw about 10 inches of rain in a short time of time, depending on the weather service. At one point in the storm, the rain fell to more than 4 inches per hour.

Viewers sent photos of KCCI and a video showing unsuccessful stranded cars in water and sump pumps at full capacity.

A boil order was issued for Ankeny residents early Sunday after a water pipe break on the south side of the city near Northwest 18th Street, but it was lifted for the majority of the city a few hours later. Crews have cut water for those who live near the main water point so that they can start doing repairs.

Houses, as well as businesses like the Briarwood Golf Club, have been damaged by unprecedented floods. "If you want to talk about a sudden flood, it's been a sudden flood," said Justin Bauer, president of Briarwood Golf Club. "

Despite sodden goods and badly damaged basements, many central Iowans have still found time to start the recovery effort." It's a good little group here, "said Fred Willrich, resident of Ankeny. "We will help each other too."

CLIVE

The rain also caused the evacuation of homes and businesses along Walnut Creek in the suburb of Clive. From noon on Sunday, Swanson Boulevard was closed from the railway at 100th Street and local traffic only from 86th Street to the railway.

PLEASANT HILL

Several Pleasant Hill Roads near Fourmile Creek and the Des Moines River are covered by water and are not pbadable, including portions of Vandalia Road, Little Fourmile Creek Drive, Pleasant Hill Boulevard and Parkridge Avenue. Copper Creek Lake Park and some The Lea Wilson Gay Trail is closed due to flooding.

Fourmile Creek, on the east side of Des Moines, was flooded and residents who needed medical equipment asked for help.

URBANDALE

At Urbandale, a huge pile of damage and debris, broken wood and glbad was all that remained of a duplex explosion that occurred around 11 pm. Saturday.

Firefighters first found parts of the house on fire and the first floor under several feet of water. Firefighters said that they believed that a night light had been watered by floodwater, causing a gas leak.

Remarkably, no one was injured in the explosion, officials said. The tenants were able to escape when the floodwaters rushed before and after the explosion. They set up a GoFundMe page. To donate, click here .

Still in Urbandale, the floods transformed the Holiday Inn along Merle Hay Road into a scene reminiscent of "Titanic". Tina Chidester was staying at the hotel with a traveling sports team when she caught the scary scene on her cell phone.

WINDSOR HEIGHTS

73rd Street was closed between Buffalo Road and Franklin Avenue, including the intersection of University Avenue and 73rd Street. It has been reopened since then.

Colby Park, the dog park, the trails and the street of the school remained closed from Sunday afternoon, said the municipal authorities

WEST OF THE MONKS

L & # 39; Avenue was closed because Walnut Creek is near the road level. The municipal authorities closed the flood gates. Flooding has been reported along Walnut Creek, which was also historically flooded on Saturday night.

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