The past weekend saw states across the Midwest and middle America – including Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota – face torrential flooding, while extreme heat has hit both the East and West Coast.
While temperatures reached triple-digits in DC over the weekend, the flooding situation in Minnesota reached its worst on Monday – with the failure of a major dam that had stood in place for over a century.
114 Year Old Dam Fails
Blue Earth River flooding breached the Rapidan Dam on Monday morning, and it was reported later in the day that the dam was at risk of imminent failure.
Le Sueur County residents in low-lying areas of the Minnesota River Valley have been instructed to monitor the situation for updates and prepare for a possible evacuation.
Dam Remains in Perilous State
State officials originally claimed the dam had failed, but later updated to say that it had been breached.
However, reports say the dam remains in a perilous state; being at imminent risk of failure. Dam operators alerted officials on Monday that the river had significantly eroded the earth around the west side of the dam.
What Would The Consequences of Dam Failure Be?
According to CBS, “failure is expected to cause the Minnesota River at Mankato to crest just below major flood state on Tuesday morning.”
Meanwhile, pieces from an Xcel Energy Building have added to the debris in the water, making the situation worse. County Road Bridge’s 33 and 90 have been closed for monitoring following the debris situation.
The Flooded River
The flooded Blue Earth River begins in northern Iowa and runs through southern Minnesota.
Additionally, the river flows 108 miles north past Blue Earth, Vernon Center and Winnebago to Mankato, where it enters the Minnesota River.
Minnesota Governor Speaks Out
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has spoken out as concerns mount over the flooding and potential dam failure. “Our agencies are in close contact with Blue Earth County and other local officials regarding the Rapidan Dam near Mankato,” he said.
Walz added, “Emergency management is on the ground and acting quickly to ensure the safety of Minnesotans as the situation develops.”
News Spreads on Social Media
The distressing footage of the breached dam quickly reached social media, where people expressed their thoughts on the situation. One person Tweeted, “This is what climate change looks like. Warmer atmosphere holds more water, more water equals heavier rainfall events. Heavy precipitation events already occur more frequently than in the past.”
On Reddit, one user speculated about what the incident could mean for the future of Rapidan Dam, saying, “I suspect there’ll be more support for removing it after this flood subsides.”
The History of Rapidan Dam
The Rapidan Dam was built 114 years ago and has been managed by Blue Earth County for the last 46.
Over time, the dam has seen regular flooding – with the second-worst incident of such occurring just five years ago. Successive floods have caused significant damage to the structure of the dam.
Dam Debate
In recent years, discussions have centered on whether the dam should be repaired or removed entirely – with both options carrying a high cost.
The Future of Rapidan Dam project currently serves to advise on which of the two options would be better.
The Outlook Across The Rest of America
In Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds recently issued a Disaster Proclamation for Sioux County after “catastrophic” flooding. Meanwhile, South Dakota is expected to face the worst flooding in the coming days.
Meanwhile, both the East Coast (California, Arizona, Utah) and West Coast (New York, DC) have faced extreme heat that has led to a spike a heat-related illnesses.
