Nebraska farmer killed while trying to rescue a victim of the worst flood for 50 years

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The "bomb blast" swept the center of the United States with hurricane-like winds and blizzard conditions this week, leaving heavy rains and floods behind.

At a press conference Friday, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts said the state had experienced historic floods in almost every region.

"This is the largest amount of widespread flooding we have had in the last fifty years," he said, according to CNN affiliate KTIV.

Nebraska rescue teams are shooting locals trapped in flood waters since Thursday.

James Wilke, a farmer from Columbus, was called to help a stranger and never came home. According to CNN affiliate KMTV, a close friend of the family posted his last moments on his social networks.

"It's no surprise to anyone who knew James that when he would have received a call to help rescuers … his answer would be yes," wrote Jodi L. Hefti on Facebook.

"Under the guidance of emergency responders, James drove his tractor over the Shell Creek bridge on Monestary Road, and the bridge gave way." James and the tractor fell into the floodwaters. "

CNN affiliates KOLN and KGIN have announced that the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency has confirmed a flood-related death in Platte County. The Mayor of Columbus also told affiliates that this person was a farmer using a tractor to get out some of the floodwaters.

Teams around Platte Valley were saving residents of King Lake when they were also stranded.

Fifteen volunteers were stranded on the lake and were eventually rescued with the help of the Nebraska National Guard, who brought in a Black Hawk helicopter, according to CNN affiliate, KETV.

Continuous Flood Alerts

The National Weather Service predicts this weekend a "much calmer" time in most areas. However, floods will persist throughout Mississippi and Missouri river.

"Anyone with interests along the affected rivers must closely monitor / act," said the meteorological service.

Many waterways in central Iowa may see moderate floods in the next week due to rain and snowmelt runoff, the meteorological service said. The flood warning in the north and parts of central Iowa was extended until Saturday evening, "the local streams and streams as well as the main arms of the river being very high ", according to the meteorological service.

In Wisconsin, Darlington officials said the city had broken its record of flooding, as the Pecatonica River reached a height of 18.2 feet in 1993, according to CNN affiliate KCRG.

"It's the worst flood we've had since," said Darlington Police Chief Jason King, according to the television channel. "We hope that the damage and the real effects that this could have on businesses and residents will be minor."

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