PHOTOS: High water on Wapsipinicon River and Walnut Creek flooding parts of Olin

Their town built on swales and hillocks near the convergence of four streams, Olin residents know what to expect during a rainy season.

“We got Walnut (Creek) on this side,” said Red Bodkin as he pointed toward corners of his living room. ”Sibles on that side, and Catfish over here. We get ‘em from all directions. We should have houseboats.”

Bodkin, 82, and his wife Norma Bodkin spent this afternoon in their mobile home on Olin's east side, watching game shows and the rising streams. Walnut Creek had overrun most of his back yard, but after removing his garden tractors from their shed and placing some tools on high shelves, he figured he was ready.

“Just sitting here waiting,” he said.

In 2008, Walnut Creek ran about six inches deep on East Main Street in front of the Bodkins'.

“It went under the trailer and out the other side, so it didn't bother me,” Red Bodkin said. “Just put on knee boots and walked in and out.”

About five blocks away on the other end of town, Robin and Kelvin Moore watched Walnut Creek inch toward their home on Resident Street. The Moores had to cut across a neighbor's yard to get there, but there house was still dry late this afternoon.

“We had to pump out our basement, but we're sitting pretty good,” said Robin Moore, 53.

Moore pointed out a nearby vacant house that's been purchased by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after other recent floods. She pointed to an empty lot on the corner  – another flooded house, another buyout. And  she watched another neighbor paddle away from his porch across West Second Street, several feet lower than the Moores' house.

“I think they just made their minds up the other day, they're getting out of it,” she said.

A house at the corner of Fourth and Elm streets remained isolated as the Wapsipinicon River receded this afternoon.

Olin's flooding today was largely the work of the Wapsipinicon River backing up its smaller tributaries. Moore said the situation was complicated by the failure of a dike north of Olin built to divert a small stream toward the Wapsi.

The rise at Olin is likely to continue at least through Wednesday: the Wapsi is now predicted to crest at Anamosa about 7 a.m. Tuesday, with the crest taking another half-day or so to work its was past Olin.

The Wapsi flooded some basements, riverside yards, and city parks when it crested around mid-day at Central City.

Photos by Julie Koehn/The Gazette

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