Flood Update: Next 24 hours critical for Wapsipinicon watershed

INDEPENDENCE – Following downpours early Wednesday, the Wapsipinicon River rose almost visibly throughout the day, climbing as much as 6 inches per hour.

“The next 24 hours are critical,” said Rick Wulfekuhle, Buchanan County emergency management coordinator. “We should be all right if we don't get hit with more heavy training rains.”

The gauge at Independence stood barely above 8 feet before Wednesday morning's downpours in parts of the Wapsipinicon watershed in Black Hawk, Buchanan and Fayette counties. It was expected to crest early today (Thursday) at 12.7 feet, barely above the 12-foot flood stage, Wulfekuhle said.

The problem, he said, is that forecasts call for more storm cells to move through Eastern Iowa on Wednesday night and Thursday.

Neither Wulfekuhle nor his Jones County counterpart, Brenda Leonard, will likely get much sleep until the troublesome front moves east of Iowa.

The Wapsipinicon is projected to crest at Anamosa on Saturday at 17.8 feet, nearly 4 feet above the 14-foot flood stage.

“We had that back in March. It closes a few roads, but no homes are impacted at that level,” Leonard said.

The gauge at Anamosa showed 11.73 feet on Wednesday afternoon.

Flash flooding subsiding in Oelwein, Waterloo after heavy rains

UPDATE: Up to five inches of rain fell in the Cedar basin this morning, causing flash flooding that closed roads, left stalled cars and impacted some businesses.

A flash flood warning has been put in place for northwestern Buchanan, Fayette and eastern Black Hawk counties.

The National Weather Service says  radar indicates three to five inches of rain fell this morning on the south side of Waterloo. Two to three inches of rain fell in other areas with another inch or so possible.

“This is nasty stuff with several hours of rain to go,” KCRG-TV9 First Alert Storm Team meteorologist Kaj O'Mara said. “I would bet rainfall records for this date in history will be shattered.  Radar is estimating more than five inches of rain falling into the Cedar basin southeast of Waterloo.”

Fayette County

Heavy rains early Wednesday morning caused flash flooding in Oelwein, forcing some people from their homes along Dry Run Creek.

Many streets in Oelwein were covered with water, though the water receded almost as quickly as it came up, officials said.

O'Mara reported 3 inches of rain fell in Oelwein in 40 minutes. Rain was heaviest in the Waterloo area, Fayette County and far northwest Buchanan County.

Storm sewers could not handle the deluge in Oelwein, causing the flash flooding. Water entered many basements, but no one knew of homes that had flooded.

The Oelwein Police Department and Fayette County Sheriff's Office closed many streets to traffic, though traffic had resumed normal patterns by mid-day.

Water got into the Little Husky Learning Center and Oelwein High School. Twenty-five children at the day-care were sent home about 8:30 a.m.

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Sandbagging in proceeding around the high school, given that more rain is expected.

The heaviest rain has fallen in the Oelwein, Maynard and Arlington areas. The rain is likely to flood Otter, Hunter and Forks of Buffalo creeks, the National Weather Service says.

Buchanan County

Emergency Manager Coordinator Rick Wulfekuhle says the Iowa Department of Transportation and sheriff's deputies closed Highway 150 north of Independence, where water was going over the road.

“Crews are out watching it pretty close,” Wulfekuhle said. “We are getting torrential rains right now.”

He also said that water is going over the road on Highway 281 near Fairbank.

Highway 30 has also been closed due to flooding near Hazleton, Wulfekuhle said.

The highway is closed north of Fontana Park, Wulfekuhle said. Small-stream flooding threatens the county's northern tier of townships, including Hazleton, Fairbank, Aurora, and Stanley.

‘”Right now it doesn't seem like the Maquoketa River in the eastern part of the county has been affected," he said, "but I'm sure it's going to be affected by this afternoon.”

Black Hawk County

Runoff from this morning's rain caused major flash flooding with up to six inches of rain having fallen in the Evansdale area. The Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office barricaded several roads in the Evansdale area.

“The rain has subsided and things are starting to drain, but we have had serious flash flooding this morning, particularly in Waterloo,” Barbara Berquam, Black Hawk County's assistant emergency management coordinator, said shortly after 11 a.m.

“Small streams in the county are bank-full or over the bank,” and police and sheriff's deputies have rescued motorists from vehicles, Berquam said.

“I couldn't get into my office because things were flooded on both sides,” said Berquam. She got a ride from an employee with a large four-wheel drive vehicle.

Berquam said floodwaters have since receded from around the office at 1925 Newell St., Waterloo.

Some people in the Elk Run Heights have water in their basements, KCRG-TV9's Justin Foss reports.

Areas of Waterloo had several stalled cars. The Lost Island waterpark is closed today.

Sandbagging is occurring in Dewar, the weather service reports.

Some intersections in the area are reopening, but others may remain closed for some time.

VIDEO: Flooding in Waterloo