Severe storms and flooding have caused significant devastation across the Midwest, resulting in at least two fatalities and putting the Rapidan Dam in southern Minnesota at risk of imminent failure, according to officials.
The Blue Earth County government announced on Monday via Facebook that the Rapidan Dam, near Mankato, is in a critical condition. Built in the early 1900s and described as being in a “state of disrepair” by a 2021 study, the dam’s potential failure poses a significant threat to downstream residents.
“We do not know if it will totally fail or if it will remain in place, however, we determined it was necessary to issue this notification to advise downstream residents and the correct regulatory agencies and other local agencies,” stated the county.
As of Tuesday morning, the dam remains standing. The Blue Earth County emergency management officials have reported a slight decrease in water flow rates from their peak on Monday, and there are no current plans for mass evacuations. Authorities continue to closely monitor the situation.
The flooding in Blue Earth County has endangered the family home and business of resident Jenny Barnes. Their nearby business, The Dam Store, known for its homemade pies and in operation since 1910, has been owned by Barnes’ family since 1972.
“It’ll happen. We don’t know when but it’s going to be inevitable that the house is going to go,” Barnes told CNN affiliate KARE. “That’s our life, as well. That’s our business; that’s our livelihood. It’s everything to us. There’s no stopping it. It’s going to go where it wants to go. It’s going to take what it wants to take. And everybody pray that it doesn’t take The Dam Store.”
Severe flooding has ravaged the Midwest for several days, resulting in two confirmed deaths. A man in his mid-70s in Clay County, Iowa, died while attempting to drive across rapid floodwaters on Saturday. Additionally, an 87-year-old man in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, died in a flood-related crash the same day.
In Iowa, President Joe Biden approved a disaster declaration for areas affected by the catastrophic flooding and severe storms, providing federal funding for relief efforts.
