Flash Flooding and Flooding in Minnesota, September 14 to 19, 2004

Five to 13 inches of rain fell across South Central Minnesota between 5 PM on the 14th and 5 AM on the 15th. This amount of rainfall caused widespread major flooding in Freeborn, Steele, Faribault, and Martin counties. Over $6 million dollars in property damage and nearly $22 million dollars in crop damage were attributed to high water in these counties. Areas of minor flooding were also reported in southern Waseca and Goodhue counties.In Freeborn County $2.1 million in property damage was reported. FEMA reported 1 home was destroyed by flood waters, major flood damage to 13 homes, minor damage to 84 homes, and 292 homes affected by flood waters across the county. The hardest hit areas were Albert Lea, Hollandale, Riceland Township, and Shell Rock Township where numerous county roads, fields, waterways, and low lying areas were underwater for up to 4 days. Road crews had to repair several road washouts after flood waters subsided. Significant flooding was reported on the Shell Rock River and Turtle Creek in addition to Fountain Lake and Albert Lea Lake. An earthen dam had to be built around the village of Hollandale to save the community from Turtle Creek's flood waters. Two thirds of the homes in town sustained flood damage. Water ran over the top of the Geneva Lake Dam, flooding potato, onion, and carrot fields. Crop losses in this area totaled $4 million. In Albert Lea the following roads were closed by flooding: Front Street, East and West Main, and Highway 65. In Alden, Morin Lake overflowed and street and basement flooding was reported. Interstate 90 was closed for several hours due to high water near Alden. Highway 251 was closed in Maple Island. Road and basement flooding was also reported in Hartland and Myrtle. Rainfall totals included 13.00 inches 5 miles southwest of Alden, 12.50 inches 4 miles north of Albert Lea, 10.66 inches in north Albert Lea, 10.25 inches in Hayward, 9.8 inches in Powers, 8.50 inches south of Emmons, and 8.00 inches in Bancroft and south Albert Lea.In Steele County rainfall amounts of 6 to 13 inches led to "unprecedented flooding". A total of $2.8 million in property damage was recorded ($1.4 million home damage, $70,000 business damage, $1.35 million infrastructure damage). Much of the damage was caused by major flooding along the Straight River and Turtle Creek across the southern portion of the county. The cities of Blooming Prairie and Ellendale were hardest hit. County officials reported major flood damage to 30 homes, minor damage to 400 homes, and 431 homes affected by flood waters. In addition 4 county businesses sustained major flood damage, 4 businesses reported minor damage, and 8 businesses were affected by flood waters. Twenty-four people in the county had to be rescued from flood waters. Numerous roads, waterways, and low lying areas were under water for up to 5 days. At one time up to 75% of county roads were closed by high water. After the water receded significant damage to roads, ditches, and bridges was apparent. Blooming Prairie High School and Elementary School were closed due to flood damage. The Straight River crested in Blooming Prairie on the 18th and remained out of its banks through the 19th. County road 212 was under water in town when the river crested. Several parks along the Straight River and its tributaries in Ellendale, Blooming Prairie, and Owatonna sustained severe water damage. In an effort to save homes on the west side of Blue Earth, volunteers sandbagged along the river. In Owatonna, a campground along the river had to be evacuated and nearby Lake Kohlmier was flooded. Near Ellendale the Straight River flooded several farms along Highway 30. A group home along Turtle Creek in Owatonna had to be evacuated after the river spilled into the facility. Overflow from Maple Creek also caused major park damage. Countywide 20% of soybean and corn crops and 10% of sweet corn crops were lost to flooding, which resulted in $10.4 million in losses.In Faribault County $1.2 million in property damage was reported. FEMA reported major flood damage to 15 homes, minor damage to 29 homes, and 272 homes affected by flood waters across the county. Numerous roadways had to be barricaded after road and culvert washouts occurred. Roads closed by flooding included highways 30, and 169 in addition to county routes 121, 108, 119, 118, 219, 109, 2, 16, 21, and 13. Interstate 90 was also closed in the eastern portion of the county. In Wells many streets were closed by high water. Half Moon Park was also flooded. Road and basement flooding was also reported in Winnebago and Minnesota Lake. In Kiester a school was flooded and phone service was out in some areas for up to a week. In Bricelyn nearly 40% of homes were damaged by flood waters. In Blue Earth the Blue Earth River flowed into at least 2 homes and flooded numerous basements, roads, and parks. The city sustained nearly $35,000 in infrastructure damage, even after sandbagging along the river. The flooding finally began to subside on the 17th. Countywide 10% of soybean crops were lost to flooding, which resulted in $3.5 million in losses. Rainfall totals included 10.20 inches in Bricelyn, 10.08 inches south of Walters, 6.73 inches in Wells, 5.00 inches in Blue Earth, and 4.86 inches in Winnebago. In Martin County $570,000 in property damage was reported ($500,000 public property, $70,000 private property). Up to 90 homes were affected by flooding due to storm sewer overflow, mainly across the southern third of the county. Five to 7 inches of rain was commonplace across the county with up to 10 inches in the Ceylon and East Chain areas. A total of 6.40 inches of rain was recorded in Fairmont. Fairmont Junior/Senior High was closed due to flood damage. A number of homes in the Canyon Drive area of Fairmont suffered basement flooding and were surrounded by water for several hours. The bridge over Cedar Creek in Cedar Creek Park was washed out. In addition, the following roads in Fairmont were closed due to flooding: Lake Aires Road, Winnebago Avenue, and Hall Street. Basement and street flooding was reported in Truman. Most of the flooding across Martin County had receded by the morning of the 16th. Countywide 10% of soybean crops were lost to flooding, which resulted in $3.7 million in losses.In Waseca County 3.54 inches of rain was recorded in Waseca. Up to 6 inches of rain flooded roads in the southern portion of the county. In Janesville roads and basements were flooded. Basement flooding was also reported in New Richland and Waseca. In Goodhue County 3.92 inches of rain was recorded in Zumbrota and 5 inches of rain was estimated in Pine Island. The Middle Fork and the North Branch of the Zumbro River overflowed their banks. The rivers crested in Pine Island during the afternoon of the 15th and fell below flood stage that evening. Pine Island Golf Course was flooded in addition to County Road 24 and 275th Avenue.