2019 Midwestern U.S. floods#Nebraska
{{short description|2019 disaster in the Midwestern United States}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox flood
| name = 2019 Midwestern U.S. floods
| image = File:Historic floods have inundated Nebraska (40463013783).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = March 2018 and March 2019 side-by-side comparison of the Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area showing effects of flooding of the Platte and Missouri Rivers.
| duration = March 2019 – December 2019
| damages = $2.9 billion ($1.6 billion in Iowa; $1.3 billion in Nebraska)
| fatalities = 3
| affected = Midwestern United States
}}
The Midwestern United States experienced major floods in the spring of 2019, primarily along the Missouri River and its tributaries in Nebraska, Missouri, South Dakota, Iowa, and Kansas. The Mississippi River also saw flooding, although starting later and ending earlier. The 2019 January-to-May period was the wettest on record for the U.S., with multiple severe weather outbreaks through May in the Midwest, High Plains, and South exacerbating the flooding and causing additional damage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Severe-Wont-Let-Major-Outbreak-and-Flood-Threat-Looming-Monday|title=Severe Won't Let Up: Major Outbreak and Flood Threat Looming for Monday by Bob Henson {{!}} Category 6|website=Weather Underground|access-date=2019-07-05}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Classic-Spring-Severe-Weather-Outbreak-Tap-Southern-Plains|title=Classic Spring Severe Weather Outbreak on Tap for Southern Plains by Bob Henson {{!}} Category 6|website=Weather Underground|access-date=2019-07-05}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Wettest-12-Months-US-HistoryAgain|title=Wettest 12 Months in U.S. History—Again by Bob Henson {{!}} Category 6|website=Weather Underground|access-date=2019-07-05}} Throughout late May and early June, rain in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri caused every site on the Mississippi River to record a top-five crest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/dvn/summary_SpringFlooding_2019|title=Spring Flooding Summary 2019|last=US Department of Commerce|first=NOAA|website=www.weather.gov|language=EN-US|access-date=2019-07-08}} At least three people in Iowa and Nebraska died.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Mitch |date=March 20, 2019 |title=An Iowa Town Fought and Failed to Save a Levee. Then Came the Flood. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/20/us/flooding-iowa-hamburg.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 21, 2019}}
Nearly 14 million people in the midwestern and southern states were affected by the flooding, which the New York Times called "The Great Flood of 2019".{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/09/11/us/midwest-flooding.html|title=The Great Flood of 2019: A Complete Picture of a Slow-Motion Disaster|last1=Almukhtar|first1=Sarah|last2=Migliozzi|first2=Blacki|date=September 11, 2019|website=New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912093013/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/09/11/us/midwest-flooding.html |archive-date=September 12, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-15|last3=Schwartz|first3=John|last4=Williams|first4=Josh}}
New record river levels were set in 42 different locations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.climatesignals.org/headlines/record-flooding-nebraska-iowa-south-dakota-wisconsin-minnesota-and-illinois-follows|title=Record Flooding in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois Follows Snowmelt, Bomb Cyclone|last=Erdman|first=Jonathan|date=2019-03-17|website=The Weather Channel, via Climate Signals|language=en|access-date=2019-09-22}}
Although $12 billion in aid was made "available to farmers who lost money due to the trade war" the previous year, Reuters reported that the USDA had "no program to cover the catastrophic and largely uninsured stored-crop losses from the widespread flooding."{{Cite web|url=https://www.climatesignals.org/headlines/us-disaster-aid-wont-cover-crops-drowned-midwest-floods|title=U.S. disaster aid won't cover crops drowned by Midwest floods|last=Polansek|first=Tom|date=2019-04-02|website=Reuters, via Climate Signals|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921235202/https://www.climatesignals.org/headlines/us-disaster-aid-wont-cover-crops-drowned-midwest-floods |archive-date=September 21, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-21}} In Nebraska, under the banner "Nebraska Strong", private fundraisers popped up across the state to help ease the financial strain, as well as offers to donate supplies, house livestock, or donate farming supplies lost. The largest private fundraiser came from Alex Stepanek of St. Paul, Nebraska, who raised $241,756 through a Facebook fundraiser. After seeing a post he created bringing attention to the devastation across the state go viral around the world, he created the fundraiser and by the following day had over $100,000.{{Cite web|last=Service|first=Betsie Freeman BH Media News|title=An astonishing fundraiser|url=https://theindependent.com/news/local/an-astonishing-fundraiser/article_0753277e-5420-11e9-9aab-dbcf14ce1426.html|access-date=2021-09-27|website=The Grand Island Independent|language=en}} The money was distributed throughout 5 towns, 5 counties, four families who had loved ones die in the flood, and the largest chunk (1/3) went to the Nebraska Farm Bureau to go directly to agriculture and farmer needs.
At least 1 million acres of U.S. farmland, in nine major grain producing states, flooded.{{Cite web|url=https://www.climatesignals.org/headlines/exclusive-more-1-million-acres-us-cropland-ravaged-floods|title=Exclusive: More than 1 million acres of U.S. cropland ravaged by floods|last1=Huffstutter|first1=P.J.|last2=Pamuk|first2=Humeyra|date=2019-04-01|website=Reuters, via Climate Signals|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922003238/https://www.climatesignals.org/headlines/exclusive-more-1-million-acres-us-cropland-ravaged-floods |archive-date=September 22, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}}
On September 17, 2019, a third round of flooding along the Missouri River was considered likely, due to heavy rains of up to "four times what is normal in parts of Montana, North and South Dakota and Nebraska."
On October 28, 2019, it was predicted that the prolonged Missouri River flooding, which lasted as long as seven months in some locations, could continue all winter, with no end in sight.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/weather/flooding/missouri-river-flooding-2019-impact-winter/63-aceaa913-5d4d-44db-89cc-60fb1a36e18a|title=Prolonged Missouri River flooding could last all winter|last=Associated Press|date=October 28, 2019|website=KSDK|access-date=2019-11-13}}
On December 16, 2019, the prolonged Missouri River flooding in the Kansas City district was declared officially over.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/longest-missouri-river-flood-event-in-kansas-city-district-officially-over|title=Missouri River flood in Kansas City district officially over|date=2019-12-16|website=KSHB|language=en|access-date=2019-12-17}}
Causes
From January until early March, average temperatures in the Midwest remained in the low 20 to 30 average degree Fahrenheit range, with record snowfall in many areas, including the early March blizzard, up to three feet on the ground in some areas.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/18/us/nebraska-flooding-facts.html|title=Why Is There Flooding in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin?|last=Hassan|first=Adeel|date=March 18, 2019|work=The New York Times}} In Nebraska, over the course of three days (March 11 – 13),{{cite web|url=https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/omaha-ne/68102/march-weather/349291|title=Omaha Month Weather - AccuWeather Forecast for NE 68102|website=AccuWeather}} temperatures rose to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, combined with 1.5 inches of rain. This quickly melted the snow, and the frozen ground was not able to absorb any meaningful amount, which led to unprecedented runoff into local streams and rivers.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/18/us/nebraska-flooding-facts.html|title=Why Is There Flooding in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin?|last=Hassan|first=Adeel|date=March 18, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 21, 2019}} Saturated soils, combined with elevated river flow from the previous fall, led to severe, widespread flooding across the middle of the United States. Many of the rivers were still frozen over with a thick layer of ice, which the powerful flow of water broke up and dislodged, creating massive chunks of ice that traveled downstream, acting like a plow.{{cite web|url=https://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/propelled-by-ferocious-floodwaters-huge-ice-chunks-batter-buildings-in/article_e4b577c3-10e2-5b0a-883e-0b81012338f5.html|title=Propelled by ferocious floodwaters, huge ice chunks batter buildings in Niobrara|last=Hammel |first=Paul Hammel |website=www.omaha.com}}
As of September 17, 2019, a third round of flooding along the Missouri River was considered likely, due to heavy rains of up to "four times what is normal in parts of Montana, North and South Dakota and Nebraska."{{Cite web|url=https://www.komu.com/news/third-round-of-flooding-in-2019-likely-along-missouri-river/|title=Third round of flooding in 2019 likely along Missouri River|last=Associated Press|date=September 17, 2019|website=KOMU.com|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920090641/https://www.komu.com/news/third-round-of-flooding-in-2019-likely-along-missouri-river/ |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}}
Damage
=Illinois=
{{See also|Mississippi River floods of 2019}}
Illinois was affected by the flooding, and the Illinois National Guard was activated to assist with the efforts along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Pritzker-Activates-Illinois-National-Guard-Amid-Flooding-510617531.html|title=Pritzker Activates Illinois National Guard Amid Flooding|website=NBC Chicago}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bnd.com/news/weather-news/article231097098.html|title=National Guard arrives in Southern Illinois to help with flood preparation efforts|website=bnd}} The Illinois National Guard was released from flood fighting duties on July 29, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtech.com/em/disaster/-Illinois-National-Guard-Released-From-Flood-Fighting-Duties.html|title=Illinois National Guard Released from Flood-Fighting Duties|last=Parker|first=Molly|date=August 1, 2019|website=www.govtech.com|language=en}}
The river crest in Grafton was the fourth highest ever recorded. Cairo experienced over 156 days with waters above flood stage.
In March, record flooding occurred on segments of the Rock and Pecatonica Rivers, and minor to moderate flooding occurred on the Fox, Des Plaines, Kankakee and Illinois Rivers.{{Cite web|url=https://wgntv.com/2019/03/18/record-flooding-on-segments-of-the-rock-and-pecatonica-rivers/|title=Record flooding on segments of the Rock and Pecatonica Rivers|last=Dailey|first=Paul|date=2019-03-18|website=WGN-TV|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319133425/https://wgntv.com/2019/03/18/record-flooding-on-segments-of-the-rock-and-pecatonica-rivers/ |archive-date=March 19, 2019 |access-date=2019-11-13}} The Pecatonica River, which has flooded seven times since May 2017, flooded again in October, along with other Chicago area rivers including the Fox River and the Rock River.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bettergov.org/news/neighborhoods-face-extinction-as-floods-increase/|title=Neighborhoods Face Extinction As Floods Increase|last=Chase|first=Brett|date=2019-11-11|website=Better Government Association|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111170346/https://www.bettergov.org/news/neighborhoods-face-extinction-as-floods-increase/ |archive-date=November 11, 2019 |access-date=2019-11-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://wgntv.com/2019/10/18/chicago-area-rivers-are-falling-flooding-continues-on-segments-of-the-rock-fox-and-pecatonica-rivers/|title=Chicago-area rivers are falling – flooding continues on segments of the Rock, Fox and Pecatonica Rivers|last=Dailey|first=Paul|date=2019-10-18|website=WGN-TV|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019134503/https://wgntv.com/2019/10/18/chicago-area-rivers-are-falling-flooding-continues-on-segments-of-the-rock-fox-and-pecatonica-rivers/ |archive-date=October 19, 2019 |access-date=2019-11-13}} Freeport is seeking funding to buy out flood-prone homes.
=Iowa=
Iowa was also affected by heavy rains and flooding. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed an emergency disaster proclamation March 14.{{Cite web|url=https://www.twincities.com/2019/03/14/bomb-cyclone-bolts-toward-upper-midwest-after-blasting-colorado-the-plains/|title=Late-winter storm hits Midwest after paralyzing Colorado|date=2019-03-14|website=Twin Cities|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-16}} One man was killed in Iowa.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Alex |title=Historic flooding kills three, forces hundreds from homes across the Midwest |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/historic-flooding-kills-three-forces-hundreds-homes-across-midwest-n984271 |access-date=March 18, 2019 |issue=March 17, 2019 |work=NBC News}}
Parts of all nine state parks were closed. Standing water from the spring floods was still present near Iowa roads in mid-September.
Governor Reynolds estimated the damage at $1.6 billion, a state record. Reynolds asked the president to declare a disaster in 67 counties.{{cite web |title=Flood Damage costs 1.6 billion in Iowa |date=March 22, 2019 |url=https://www.apnews.com/cc5a796b2eab4784900e853f1ba8d854 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=22 March 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kcci.com/article/flooding-causes-estimated-dollar16b-damage-in-iowa/26909750|title=Flooding causes estimated $1.6B damage in Iowa|date=March 22, 2019|website=KCCI}}
A website was established, [https://floods2019.iowa.gov/ 2019 Iowa Floods], to help residents apply for assistance, report hazards, check on levee and road status, and access areas with closed roads.
== Western Iowa ==
Western Iowa suffered severe impacts, especially in the Missouri River Valley south of Council Bluffs. There, at least 30 levee failures flooded towns and highways.{{Cite web|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2019/03/20/iowa-flooding-2019-weather-rain-snowmelt-levees-breached-flood-warnings-where-forecast-southwest-nws/3224920002/|title=Number of levee breaches up to 30 from 12, and Iowa's flood season is just getting started|last=Norvell|first=Kim|date=March 20, 2019|website=Des Moines Register|language=en|access-date=2019-09-21}}
In Hamburg, two-thirds of the town was underwater when the bomb cyclone hit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2019/04/10/snow-iowa-mayor-flooding|title='Half Of Our Town Is Still Underwater': One Iowa Mayor Worries About More Flooding As Snow Hits The Midwest|last1=Young|first1=Robin|last2=McMahon|first2=Serena|date=April 10, 2019|website=WBUR|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410231716/https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2019/04/10/snow-iowa-mayor-flooding |archive-date=April 10, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-21}} The town lost sewage and gas services, according to city officials.{{cite web |last1=Everson |first1=Sean |title=Hamburg, Iowa, devastated by flooding, is without water, sewage and gas |url=https://www.ketv.com/article/hamburg-iowa-devastated-by-flooding-is-without-water-sewage-and-gas/26874613 |website=KETV Omaha |publisher=ABC |access-date=22 March 2019 |date=19 March 2019}} The town's levee, which was in need of repair, was breached. Residents had been unable to raise the $5 million for necessary repairs before the storm, despite releasing a 2012 flash mob YouTube video of residents dancing on Main Street, singing "Levee. Levee. Save us from the river." to the tune of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary."{{Cite web|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2019/10/09/iowa-flooding-2019-missouri-river-buyouts-flood-recovery-fema/2287374001/|title=205 days and counting: For western Iowa, recovery from historic flooding remains a long way off|last=Norvell|first=Kim|date=October 9, 2019|website=Des Moines Register|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08}}
Floodwaters damaged the water treatment plant in Glenwood.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iowapublicradio.org/post/floodwaters-affect-southwest-iowa-water-plants|title=Floodwaters Affect Southwest Iowa Water Plants|last=Peikes|first=Katie|date=March 19, 2019|website=Iowa Public Radio|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320125702/https://www.iowapublicradio.org/post/floodwaters-affect-southwest-iowa-water-plants |archive-date=March 20, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}} On April 5, the city of Glenwood was still "trucking in more than 6,000-gallon tanks of water to provide the roughly 275,000 gallons its residents ... [were] using each day."{{Cite web|url=https://www.climatesignals.org/headlines/southwest-iowa-and-elsewhere-drinking-water-problems-linger-long-after-flooding|title=Climate Signals {{!}} In southwest Iowa and elsewhere, drinking water problems linger long after flooding|last=Funk|first=Josh|date=2019-04-05|website=Des Moines Register, via Climate Signals|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921235201/https://www.climatesignals.org/headlines/southwest-iowa-and-elsewhere-drinking-water-problems-linger-long-after-flooding |archive-date=September 21, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-21}}
On April 11, hundreds of homes in Fremont County were still evacuated, and road closures remained in place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iowapublicradio.org/post/fremont-county-family-among-many-devastated-western-iowa-flooding|title=Fremont County Family Among Many Devastated By Western Iowa Flooding|last=Peikes|first=Katie|website=www.iowapublicradio.org|date=April 12, 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-09-22}} Satellite images from the Weather Channel showed the town of Bartlett almost completely underwater.{{Cite web|url=https://weather.com/news/news/2019-03-17-flooding-before-and-after-images-midwest-nebraska|title=Before-and-After Images Show Ongoing Flood Disaster in Nebraska and Iowa|last=Dolce|first=Chris|date=March 19, 2019|website=The Weather Channel|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190317185618/https://weather.com/news/news/2019-03-17-flooding-before-and-after-images-midwest-nebraska |archive-date=March 17, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}} Fremont County farmers lost an estimated "390,000 bushels of stored soybeans and about 1.2 million bushels of stored corn."{{Cite web|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2019/03/19/iowa-flooding-2019-missouri-river-weather-farming-livestock-losses-kim-reynolds-nebraska-rain-snow/3212015002/|title=Western Iowa farmers rush to save grain, livestock before Missouri flood waters overtake them|last=Eller|first=Donnelle|date=March 19, 2019|website=Des Moines Register|language=en|access-date=2019-09-22}}
One homeowner in McPaul had to wait 180 days for floodwater to drain; the home flooded again five days later. The McPaul exit off of Interstate 29 was still closed in early October, and standing water was visible.
43% of flooded homeowners in Pacific Junction, other parts of rural Mills County, and Hamburg expressed interest in federal buyouts, which have a partial funding match from the Iowa Flood Mitigation Board.
== Eastern Iowa ==
In Eastern Iowa, the Quad Cities spent 96 days with the Mississippi above flood stage levels. In Burlington, the Mississippi rose above its banks for more than 104 days, surpassing its 1993 record.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iowapublicradio.org/post/water-recedes-river-cities-tally-flood-damage|title=As Water Recedes, River Cities Tally Flood Damage|last=Gerlock|first=Grant|date=June 25, 2019|website=Iowa Public Radio|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626023221/https://www.iowapublicradio.org/post/water-recedes-river-cities-tally-flood-damage |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}}
The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI) estimated over 2 billion dollars in flood damage.
== Road closures ==
Interstate 29 was closed in March, and again in May, from Council Bluffs to the Missouri state border and from there to St. Joseph, Missouri,{{cite news|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2019/03/20/iowa-flooding-2019-weather-rain-snowmelt-levees-breached-flood-warnings-where-forecast-southwest-nws/3224920002/|title=Number of levee breaches up to 30 from 12, and Iowa's flood season is just getting started|last1=Norvell|first1=Kim|date=March 20, 2019|access-date=March 21, 2019|publisher=Des Moines register}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2019/05/29/iowa-flooding-2019-interstate-29-closed-iowa-missouri-mills-county-fremont-county/1269363001/|title=Interstate 29 is closed — again — due to flooding in Iowa, Missouri|last=Norvell|first=Kim|date=May 29, 2019|website=Des Moines Register|language=en|access-date=2019-09-22}}{{Cite web|url=http://sandhillsexpress.com/uncategorized/portions-of-interstate-29-closed-highway-2-closed-at-nebraska-city-missouri-river-bridge/|title=Portions of Interstate 29 closed; Highway 2 closed at Nebraska City Missouri River bridge|last=Gaarder|first=Nancy|date=March 15, 2019|website=Sandhills Express|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922025104/http://sandhillsexpress.com/uncategorized/portions-of-interstate-29-closed-highway-2-closed-at-nebraska-city-missouri-river-bridge/ |archive-date=September 22, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}} with portions of the interstate under {{convert|15|ft|abbr=on}} of water.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}}
On September 20, sections of Interstate-680 and Interstate 29 were once again closed due to Missouri River flooding. Some of the standing water by Iowa roads had been there since the spring floods.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wowt.com/content/news/HEARTLAND-FLOOD-A-half-a-year-deep-in-the-water-560994341.html|title=HEARTLAND FLOOD: A half a year deep in the water|last=Campbell|first=Tara|website=www.wowt.com|language=english|access-date=2019-09-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.iowapublicradio.org/post/missouri-river-flooding-closes-portions-i-680-i-29|title=Missouri River Flooding Closes Portions Of I-680, I-29|last=Peikes|first=Katie|website=www.iowapublicradio.org|date=September 20, 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-09-22}}
=Missouri=
File:Flood of 2019- Rocheport, MO.jpgThe entire community of Craig, as well as parts of St. Joseph, were evacuated,{{cite web |title=People in Craig, Missouri, told to 'evacuate town immediately' after levee breach |url=https://www.kmbc.com/amp/article/holt-county-sheriff-issues-mandatory-evacuation-for-craig-missouri/26870855 |website=KNBC Kansas City |access-date=22 March 2019 |date=20 March 2019}} and portions of Interstate 29 were under {{convert|15|feet|m|abbr=off}} of water. On March 21, a state of emergency was issued by Governor Mike Parson, who said: {{cquote|The rising floodwaters are affecting more Missouri communities and farms, closing more roads and threatening levees, water treatment plants and other critical infrastructure. We will continue to work closely with our local partners to assess needs and provide resources to help as Missourians continue this flood fight and as we work to assist one another.{{cite web |last1=Hollingsworth |first1=Heather |title=Missouri declares state of emergency amid flooding; Nebraska estimates over $1 billion in damage |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/midwest/ct-missouri-emergency-midwest-flooding-20190321-story,amp.html |website=Associated Press |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=23 March 2019}}}}
In Holt County, about 30,000 acres (12,140 hectares) of the 95,000 acres (38,445 hectares) that flooded in spring 2019 were still underwater in late October, leading to concerns of the floodwater freezing during the winter. Corning had flooded more than once by November.{{Cite web|url=https://insideclimatenews.org/american-climate/essay/loss|title=The Common Language of Loss|last=Banerjee|first=Neela|date=2019-11-25|website=InsideClimate News|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127195512/https://insideclimatenews.org/american-climate/essay/loss |archive-date=November 27, 2019 |access-date=2019-12-08}}
=Nebraska=
File:Team Offutt battling flood waters 190317-F-IT794-1052.jpg
On March 14, 2019, the Spencer Dam on the Niobrara River collapsed, releasing an eleven-foot wall of water.{{Cite web|url=https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/foot-wall-of-water-one-dam-breaks-three-counties-suffer/article_eaf487d7-acc0-53a8-8786-9eccb43942ed.html|title=11-foot wall of water: One dam breaks, three counties suffer|last=Salter|first=Peter|date=March 17, 2019|website=JournalStar.com|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190317214758/https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/foot-wall-of-water-one-dam-breaks-three-counties-suffer/article_eaf487d7-acc0-53a8-8786-9eccb43942ed.html |archive-date=March 17, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}} The unrestrained flooding which followed destroyed three bridges downstream, including the Highway 281 bridge.{{cite news |title=Spencer Dam collapsed |url=https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/local-news/spencer-dam-compromised/1848462115 |access-date=March 15, 2019 |publisher=Siouxland Proud |date=March 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327085735/https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/local-news/spencer-dam-compromised/1848462115 |archive-date=March 27, 2019 |url-status=dead }}
In east central Nebraska, residents along the flooded Missouri, Platte and Elkhorn Rivers were forced to evacuate as some locals experienced all-time record flooding. The city of Norfolk evacuated a third of its residents.{{cite news |title=Flash flood emergency up for Platte after ice jam breaks; 1 missing in Norfolk |url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/flash-flood-emergency-up-for-platte-after-ice-jam-breaks/article_5c6e6cd4-00af-5ce3-b99f-c2c9415f98a8.html |access-date=March 15, 2019 |publisher=Lincoln Journal Star |date=March 14, 2019}} The Platte and Elkhorn Rivers had overflowed their levees in the greater Omaha region, and some communities were put under a mandatory evacuation order. The Platte River at numerous sites had reached flooding of "historical proportions" with some sites breaking all-time record flood levels by as much as {{convert|5|ft}}.{{cite news |last1=Duffy |first1=Erin |last2=Gaarder |first2=Nancy |last3=Peters |first3=Chris |title=Flood emergency declared for western Douglas County; weather service urges residents to evacuate |url=https://www.omaha.com/news/metro/flood-emergency-declared-for-western-douglas-county-weather-service-urges/article_0cb5a056-4dd0-50d3-8ea7-b5424449ce24.html |access-date=March 15, 2019 |publisher=Omaha World-Herald |date=March 15, 2019}} By March 15, access to the city of Fremont was blocked due to all roads being closed in and out of the city.{{Cite web|url=https://www.omaha.com/weather/access-to-fremont-blocked-due-to-road-closures-caused-by/article_437282f6-0ea9-5368-bb7c-6e35c2c51cb1.html|title=Access to Fremont blocked due to road closures caused by record flooding|first=Blake|last=Ursch|website=Omaha.com}} This remained the case days later, with national guard military convoys being set up to get food and other supplies into the city.
Offutt Air Force Base had extensive flooding from the Missouri River, inundating 30 buildings and {{convert|3000|ft|abbr=on}} of their only runway.{{cite news |last1=Liewer |first1=Steve |title=One-third of Offutt underwater; at least 30 buildings damaged in flood |url=https://www.omaha.com/news/military/one-third-of-offutt-underwater-at-least-buildings-damaged-in/article_631f9b34-5271-50e8-b5eb-19f488daaf32.html |access-date=March 18, 2019 |publisher=Omaha World-Herald}} The base received damage that was said to "not be repaired for months", which caused some events to be moved back.{{cite web|url=https://www.wowt.com/content/news/HEARTLAND-FLOOD-Offutt-begins-long-road-to-recovery-from-flood-507537751.html|title=HEARTLAND FLOOD: Offutt begins long road to recovery from flood|first=Jennifer|last=Ortega|website=www.wowt.com}} Camp Ashland, one of the Nebraska National Guard's main training sites, was also extensively damaged, with 51 of 62 buildings affected. Military representatives stated that the flooding is the worst that the camp has seen in its history, including a serious flood from 2015 that cost 3.7 million in repairs. It took several months to clean and repair the facility to support scaled back operations, with more extensive rebuilding efforts ongoing for the next several years.{{cite web|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/nebraska-national-guard-camp-recovering-after-worst-flooding-of-the-last-century-official-says-1.575646|title=Nebraska National Guard camp recovering after worst flooding of the last century, official says|website=Stars and Stripes|access-date=April 7, 2019|archive-date=April 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407071907/https://www.stripes.com/news/nebraska-national-guard-camp-recovering-after-worst-flooding-of-the-last-century-official-says-1.575646|url-status=dead}}
Thirty of the one hundred homes in Lynch were destroyed by the flood.
On March 18, Nebraska governor Pete Ricketts declared a state of emergency and stated that the floods caused "[t]he most extensive damage our state has ever experienced."{{cite news|url=https://www.journalnow.com/news/trending/floodwaters-receding-in-nebraska-but-long-and-costly-recovery-lies/article_62618653-a5c8-5b4b-91a0-a3bf115afeb5.html|title=Floodwaters receding in Nebraska, but long and costly recovery lies ahead|last=Ristau|first=Reece|work=Winston-Salem Journal|via=Omaha World-Herald|date=March 19, 2019|access-date=March 19, 2019}}
Flood damage in Nebraska has been estimated at over $1.3 billion, including "$449 million in damage to roads, levees and other infrastructure." Twenty-seven bridges were damaged.{{Cite web|url=http://netnebraska.org/article/news/1181479/nebraska-roads-and-bridges-still-recovery-after-flooding|title=Nebraska Roads and Bridges Still in Recovery After Flooding {{!}} netnebraska.org|last=Mollenkamp|first=Allison|date=July 2, 2019|website=NET Nebraska News|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702142323/http://netnebraska.org/article/news/1181479/nebraska-roads-and-bridges-still-recovery-after-flooding |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}}
Agricultural damages included "$440 million in crop losses; and $400 million in cattle losses."{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/03/21/705408364/nebraska-faces-over-1-3-billion-in-flood-losses|title=Nebraska Faces Over $1.3 Billion In Flood Losses|last=Schwartz|first=Matthew S|date=March 21, 2019|website=National Public Radio|language=en|access-date=2019-09-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.agriculture.com/news/nebraska-flood-damage-15-billion-and-rising|title=Nebraska Flood Damage: $1.5 Billion and Rising|last=Spiegel|first=Bill|date=2019-03-20|website=Successful Farming|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806100744/https://www.agriculture.com/news/nebraska-flood-damage-15-billion-and-rising |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}} Livestock losses included seven hundred hogs that were drowned on a farm near Fremont.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wowt.com/content/news/Fremont-farmers-lose-hundreds-of-animals-in-flood-507375061.html|title=Fremont farmers lose hundreds of animals in flood|last=Chapman|first=John|date=Mar 19, 2019|website=WOWT|language=english|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331135643/https://www.wowt.com/content/news/Fremont-farmers-lose-hundreds-of-animals-in-flood-507375061.html |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}} Volunteers from Ohio's Rural America Relief mounted a 10 truck convoy to North Bend with supplies for farm cleanup, "including four Gators to access the saturated fields."{{Cite web|url=https://www.agriculture.com/weather/severe-weather/ohio-volunteers-help-flooded-farmers-in-nebraska|title=Ohio Volunteers Help Flooded Farmers in Nebraska|last=Tevis|first=Cheryl|date=2019-08-19|website=Successful Farming|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819230519/https://www.agriculture.com/weather/severe-weather/ohio-volunteers-help-flooded-farmers-in-nebraska |archive-date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}} After the 2011 Missouri River Flood, "it took years for some affected fields to be cleaned of debris and sand," according to a Nebraska DOT official." Nebraska's agronomists stress the importance of choosing appropriate cover crops for flooded fields which can not be replanted.{{Cite web|url=https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2019/crop-impacts-mid-season-flooding|title=Crop Impacts and Options After Mid-Season Flooding|last=Sivits|first=Sarah|date=2019-07-12|website=CropWatch|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922025113/https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2019/crop-impacts-mid-season-flooding |archive-date=September 22, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.farmers.gov/connect/blog/conservation/noahs-nebraska-flood-story|title=Noah's Nebraska Flood Story|last=Pope|first=Joanna|date=August 26, 2019|website=Farmers.gov|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922025107/https://www.farmers.gov/connect/blog/conservation/noahs-nebraska-flood-story |archive-date=September 22, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}}
The University of Nebraska announced Flood Recovery Serviceships with the Nebraska Disaster Recovery Service Corps, sending 24 students to affected communities.{{Cite web|url=https://nebraska.edu/flood-assistance/flood-recovery-serviceships|title=Flood Recovery Serviceships|last=|first=|date=2019|website=University of Nebraska|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411152606/https://nebraska.edu/flood-assistance/flood-recovery-serviceships |archive-date=April 11, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/nebraska-students-begin-flood-serviceship-projects/|title=Nebraska students begin flood serviceship projects|last=|first=|date=June 27, 2019|website=University of Nebraska|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710193453/https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/nebraska-students-begin-flood-serviceship-projects/ |archive-date=July 10, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}}
= North Dakota =
Widespread spring flooding "damaged homes, public infrastructure, hundreds of roads and thousands of acres of farmland in 19 counties in western, south central and eastern North Dakota," and resulted in $16.6 million in federal funds and state loans.{{Cite web|url=https://kfgo.com/news/articles/2019/sep/19/north-dakota-to-use-166m-to-cover-spring-flooding-costs/939080/|title=North Dakota to use $16.6M to cover spring flooding costs|last=|first=|date=September 19, 2019|website=The Mighty 790 KFGO|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025125140/https://kfgo.com/news/articles/2019/sep/19/north-dakota-to-use-166m-to-cover-spring-flooding-costs/939080/|archive-date=October 25, 2019|access-date=2019-10-25}}
On October 21, 2019, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum declared a statewide flood emergency, as "unprecedented fall flooding" and rising river levels threatened the harvest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kxnet.com/news/state-news/burgum-declares-statewide-flood-emergency/|title=Burgum declares statewide flood emergency|date=2019-10-21|website=KX NEWS|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-25}} North Dakota Agricultural Commissioner Doug Goehring said, "We probably have in western Minnesota and North Dakota about two billion dollars worth of soybeans that are sitting in water or at least in conditions which may not allow producers to get out there and get them anytime soon."{{Cite web|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/10/21/north-dakota-governor-declares-a-statewide-flood-emergency|title=North Dakota governor declares a statewide flood emergency|website=MPR News|access-date=2019-10-25}}
= South Dakota =
In March 2019, a powerful blizzard dumped up to two feet of snow in South Dakota, followed by rapidly warming temperatures that left flooding in its wake.{{Cite web|url=https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/pennington-county-approves-local-disaster-declaration/article_0cc2fb5e-bec6-5a12-a57c-a289c2b2292a.html|title=Pennington County approves local disaster declaration|last=DenOuden|first=Candy|date=April 9, 2019|website=Rapid City Journal Media Group|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411004712/https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/pennington-county-approves-local-disaster-declaration/article_0cc2fb5e-bec6-5a12-a57c-a289c2b2292a.html |archive-date=April 11, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-21}} Some residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation were stranded for days, and about 8,000 people lost drinking water.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/24/us/midwest-flooding-pine-ridge.html|title='A State of Emergency': Native Americans Stranded for Days by Flooding|last=Smith|first=Mitch|date=2019-03-24|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-09-21|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} High water on the Moreau River prompted evacuations on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kxnet.com/news/flooding-forces-evacuations-on-south-dakota-reservation/|title=Flooding forces evacuations on South Dakota reservation|date=2019-03-28|website=KX NEWS|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-21}} Pennington County approved a local disaster declaration as a result of a bridge collapse and other damage.
In September 2019, "heavy rains dumped more than four times what is normal in parts of Montana, North and South Dakota and Nebraska."{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/third-round-of-flooding-in-2019-likely-along-missouri-river/ar-AAHob3j|title=Third round of flooding in 2019 likely along Missouri River|last=Funk|first=Josh|date=|website=Associated Press, via www.msn.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920090037/https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/third-round-of-flooding-in-2019-likely-along-missouri-river/ar-AAHob3j |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/reports/pdfs/weeklyupdate.pdf|title=Missouri River Basin – Update|last=|first=|date=17 September 2019|website=US Army Corps of Engineers|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922042301/http://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/reports/pdfs/weeklyupdate.pdf|archive-date=September 22, 2019|access-date=}}
Between September 12–15, 2019, the Big Sioux River overflowed its banks. Three blocks of Dell Rapids, South Dakota were flooded, and up to a dozen homes damaged.{{Cite web|url=https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/city/2019/09/20/homes-dell-rapids-south-dakota-slated-demolition-after-floods-big-sioux-river/2386581001/|title=Homes in Dell Rapids could be slated for demolition after floods|last=Sneve|first=Joe|date=September 20, 2019|website=Argus Leader|language=en|access-date=2019-09-21}} Bridges were washed out in Mitchell, which received 7 inches of rain in one night.{{Cite web|url=https://weather.com/news/news/2019-09-14-south-dakota-floods-madison-mitchell-dell-rapids|title=Homes Evacuated, Roads Washed Out in South Dakota Flooding|last=|first=|date=September 14, 2019|website=The Weather Channel|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915092405/https://weather.com/news/news/2019-09-14-south-dakota-floods-madison-mitchell-dell-rapids |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksfy.com/content/news/Flooding-hits-several-communities-in-eastern-South-Dakota-560120291.html|title=Mitchell among many communities hit by flooding|last=|first=|date=September 12, 2019|website=KSFY|language=english|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913021059/https://www.ksfy.com/content/news/Flooding-hits-several-communities-in-eastern-South-Dakota-560120291.html |archive-date=September 13, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-21}} Interstate 90 was shut down between Mitchell and Sioux Falls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/crime/2019/09/12/heavy-flooding-school-road-closures-south-dakota-madison-mitchell/2298285001/|title=Big Sioux River surpasses March's record-breaking flood levels, I-90 closed from Plankinton to Sioux Falls|last1=Nelson|first1=Katie|last2=Sneve|first2=Joe|date=September 12, 2019|website=Argus Leader|language=en|access-date=2019-09-21|last3=Ferguson|first3=Danielle|last4=Huber|first4=Makenzie}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksfy.com/content/news/Flooding-forces-closure-of-I-90-west-of-Mitchell-560132241.html|title=UPDATE: Portions of I-90 to remain closed|last=|first=|date=September 12, 2019|website=KSFY|language=english|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913024259/https://www.ksfy.com/content/news/Flooding-forces-closure-of-I-90-west-of-Mitchell-560132241.html |archive-date=September 13, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-21}} Baltic, South Dakota, was only accessible via Highway 115. Non-residents were urged to avoid Dell Rapids, Baltic, and Renner until the floods cleared.{{Cite web|url=https://kelo.com/blogs/2019-flood-update/36083/please-stay-away-if-youre-not-from-the-area/|title=Please stay away if you're not from the area|last=Hergert|first=Kristin|date=March 25, 2019|website=KELO Newstalk 1320 107.9|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921235150/https://kelo.com/blogs/2019-flood-update/36083/please-stay-away-if-youre-not-from-the-area/|archive-date=September 21, 2019|access-date=2019-09-21}} In Madison, "about 30 people had to be rescued by boats and heavy equipment," after nine inches of rain fell in just two days. Schools in Spencer were closed for two days, and streets were submerged.
On September 17, residents of Dakota Dunes, a development sandwiched between the Big Sioux River and the Missouri River, were encouraged to evacuate as a precaution due to heavy rains, with peak waters expected the following Tuesday."
See also
{{Portal|Weather}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/144691/historic-floods-inundate-nebraska NASA satellite imagery]
- [https://kelo.com/news/articles/2019/mar/23/compilation-of-local-regional-flooding-info-sources-from-the-nws/ Compilation of local, regional flooding info sources] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922052920/https://kelo.com/news/articles/2019/mar/23/compilation-of-local-regional-flooding-info-sources-from-the-nws/ |date=September 22, 2019 }}, from the National Weather Service
::*[https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=FSD River Forecasts], [https://www.siouxfalls.org/flood Sioux Falls], [https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/Pages/2019-spring-flooding.aspx Minnesota]{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, [https://iowafloodcenter.org/resources/ Iowa], [https://nema.nebraska.gov/operations/march-2019-flood-information-and-help-links Nebraska], [http://www.sdresponse.gov/ South Dakota]
{{2019 floods}}
Category:2010s floods in the United States
Category:2019 natural disasters in the United States
Category:March 2019 in the United States
Category:Midwestern United States
Category:Natural disasters in Iowa
Category:Natural disasters in Nebraska