As of 7pm Wednesday, Mayor Dominic Jones released the following update.
- The Des Moines River is slowly receding, however we strongly encourage you to keep your sandbags in place as any rain can lead to a rise in water levels.
- Sandbags will be picked up after the river levels fall below “action” stage of 17 feet. This will likely be well after the 4th of July.
- We are working on a temporary housing and storage plan. Details will be coming in the next few days.
- The debris drop-off site is taking more and more debris. Over 100 residences have utilized the drop-off site and more have gone directly to the landfill. Please DO NOT leave any debris on the ground, it all has to go into the roll off dumpsters. Also, if the site is closed, do not drive around the cones. Full Instructions are available on Cottonwood County Public Works Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064828925711 or they are also listed on KDOM’s Website and KDOM’s Facebook Page along with up to date announcements. https://www.facebook.com/KDOMWindom
- In an effort to reduce Cottonwood Lake levels, a 4,500 gallon per minute pump is pumping water from Warren Pond to Warren Lake. Authorization was given by the Minnesota DNR.
- The Army Corps of Engineers was in town today looking at the temporary levees that were built near Island Park. City officials discussed with them a permanent project to better protect homes and businesses in that area during future flooding.
———————————————————————
Mayor Dominic Jones stated in an update, the river did crest at 25.01 feet which at an elevation of 1,354.01 feet. The river will remain very high for days as water elevations don’t seem to be changing much upstream. It is requested that the community sit tight and not remove sandbags. Sandbags will be picked up after the river levels fall below “action” stage of 17 feet. This will likely be well after the 4th of July. Jones went onto report that as we have reached crest, efforts are turning toward monitoring and recovery. The Emergency Operations Center has been in contact with state and local officials regarding damage assessments and volunteer/donation management. In an interview that is posted on KDOM’s Website under Pod Casts if you would like to listen to it in its entirety, the conversation lent itself to the amazing job that the Leadership in the Community and the Volunteers of the Community have truly done an amazing job of saving a lot of houses in this town. Jones added “we sure do believe so, you know some of this we’ve learned from the past as well. The water levels are the highest record levels ever and what he could say is that it doesn’t look like 1969. Again, I want to add that The County, City and State support has been unbelievable. Well done.
———————————————————————-
The City of Jackson continues to release information pertaining to the flooding in the city, On the 26th it was reported that critical infrastructure continues to be saved by city staff and volunteers, due to an anticipated further two-foot rise in water levels. In order to bag sand there is a requirement to be 18 years or older and it was explained that it is due to liability concerns for the city, county, and state partners, though other entities may be allowing volunteers under the age of 18. For residents who want the power shut off to their home, call the Law Enforcement Center at 507-847-4420. Electricity will be shut off at your meter, which means you may not see crews at your home. The City of Jackson website has centrally located information that they are posting as they continue to mitigate the flooding.
———————————————————————-
There are plans in development regarding financial donations. It is important that there is one centrally located place for donations to funnel through so that all donations can be monitored and distributed to individuals and families in need. We have a lot of people wanting to donate and give that aren’t even within the community and we want to make sure their donations are treated with respect and the knowledge that they are going to flood victims as they desire. There will be more information sent out shortly on how and where you can make monetary donations.
————————————————————-
Friendly reminder that the detours on Highway 60/71 remain in place and there are barricades in place in certain areas within every community in our listening area. DO NOT go around or through the barricades. They are there for a reason and they are there for your safety and you could be ticketed.