Saturday’s heavy rains wreak havoc in area
Heavy rains Saturday swelled local streams and creeks, including at Paradise Valley Campground south of McGregor, where raging waters forced people to evacuate and left mobile homes in precarious positions. (Photo courtesy of Kim Dickey)
Just days after six inches of rain pounded Paradise Valley Campground, clean-up was underway to clear debris scattered by flash flood waters. (Photo courtesy of Kim Dickey)
Clayton County Supervisor Ron McCartney stands in a ditch created by flooding on Ivory Road, east of the fairgrounds. (Submitted photo)
A bridge on Ivory Road was also heavily damaged. (Submitted photo)
Numerous showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rain in parts of the area Saturday morning into early afternoon, with some portions of Clayton County reporting as much as 6 inches of water and significant damage.
Creeks and streams rose rapidly, including Bloody Run near Marquette. According to Clayton County Conservation, Bloody Run County Park will be closed until further notice. Also coming out of its banks was Sny Magill Creek, south of McGregor, wreaking havoc on Paradise Valley Campground, which had to be evacuated. A portion of Keystone Road, in that area, was also closed, as was Justice Road.
A washout along Ivory Road east of the fairgrounds created a ditch along the road and also damaged a bridge.
Thanks to heavy rains farther north two weeks ago, the Mississippi River has also been on the rise. The river level was 13.27 feet Monday afternoon and was expected to crest at 13.7 feet by Wednesday.
Emergency Management Director Sarah Moser is looking into a possible disaster declaration for parts of the county. County supervisors have already signed off on it.
Clayton County Register Editor Pam Reinig and North Iowa Times Editor Audrey Posten contributed to this article.
