Waters rise, but Independence avoids major impact from flooding

INDEPENDENCE - A flood warning from the National Weather Service continues in Eastern Iowa this week as high water levels on the Wapsipinicon River wash downstream.

The floodwaters are expected to continue rising in Jones County throughout the coming days and the National Weather Service predicts Anamosa will reach moderate flood stage levels with a crest of 20 feet - flood stage is 14.5 feet - shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The flooding is being caused by storms in the area late last week and into Saturday morning, said Andy Ervin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities. The northeast part of Buchanan County had about 6 inches of rainfall, and the southwest side measured just more than an inch of rain.

Flooding also occurred in Fairbank, Central City and Quasqueton, according to National Weather Service reports.

However, Jones County Emergency Management Coordinator Brenda Leonard isn't concerned for any area residences or businesses in Anamosa or the surrounding area. It's most likely the water won't reach those properties, she said.

'Throughout the whole county, there shouldn't be any impact to any houses,” Leonard said, adding she is not aware of any plans to sandbag around Anamosa.

If flooding in Anamosa and the rest of Jones County proves the same as further upstream, its likely residents won't see any major effects.

With the Wapsipinicon River reaching major flood stage levels with a crest of 15.4 feet in Independence Sunday afternoon - flood stage is 12 feet - officials and residents said things could have been much worse.

'We faired really well,” said Rick Wulfekuhle, Buchanan County emergency management coordinator.

Most of the flooding in town occurred in the Riverwalk Parks, a project that consists of more than '18 acres of FEMA buyout land,” according to the city's website. The land is a part of a flood hazard mitigation program through which homes and properties in at-risk areas are removed in hopes of saving property owners repeated costs of repair.

After receding, the river level in Independence did rise again to 14.3 feet Monday afternoon, but that was expected Ervin said.

'People did some precautionary sandbagging Saturday once we saw what was happening in Fairbank,” said Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Wolfgram, referencing a town further upstream that experienced increased water levels on the Little Wapsipinicon River.

Wulfekuhle said some infrastructure and roadways were impacted, as well as about 20 residents in the unincorporated towns of Littleton and Otterville.

'We'll have a good estimate (of the damage) by (Tuesday),” he said.

The Wapsipinicon Mill, located on the west bank in downtown Independence, was prepared for flooding this past weekend. All basement windows on the northern and eastern side of the building were opened, allowing for floodwaters to flow through.

Leanne Harrison, president of the Buchanan County Historical Society, said officials do this as a precaution whenever the river reaches 12 feet or higher.

'We do it as a precautionary measure so (the water) doesn't blow out the wall,” Harrison said, adding she is uncertain at this point if the Mill sustained any damage, or when they will be able to open to the public.

'We'll probably open later in the week,” she said.

Another Independence business near the Wapsipinicon River - Vern's True Value hardware store - was open Monday after employees moved equipment and placed sandbags over the weekend. The sandbags were removed by Monday afternoon.

'We've been here long enough (that) we know all about this water coming up,” said Bill Hall, a True Value employee of 15 years.

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