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I-29 expected to close near Honey Creek due to rising water levels Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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MORE WATER. MILLS COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SAYS IN JUST 24 HOURS, THE RIVER ROSE ONE FOOT. AND, THEY SAY IT’S NOT STOPPING THERE, ADDING IT WILL CREST ABOVE 29 FEET FRIDAY. >> WE’LL HAVE A LOT OF WATER COME INTO AG PROPERTY AN PROBABLY WILL COMPROMISE A LOT OF OUR COUNTRY ROADS UP HERE IN THIS AREA AND POSSIBLY HIGHWAY -- SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 34. EMILY: A DAMAGED LEVEE BY LAMBERT AVENUE IS FORCING WATER BACK INTO TOWN. >> THE BIGGEST CONCERN I HAVE IS THE WATER COMING BACK IN. WE COULD LOSE SOME OF OUR ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH MEANS PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE WORKING ON THEIR PROPERTY ARE GONNA LOSE ACCESS. EMILY: THE COUNTY ISSUED A FLOOD ALERT ON MONDAY, ADVISING RESIDENTS TO CONSIDER EVACUATING THE AREA, BUT DIRECTOR LARRY HURST SAYS ROADS AND AGRICULTURE COULD GET THE MOST IMPACT. >> AND REALLY, IT’S GONNA GET ON THE ROADS, WHETHER IT AFFECTS YOUR HOME OR NOT, IT’S REALLY GOING TO AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO GET TO YOUR HOMES. EMILY: AND IT’S NOT JUST MILLS COUNTY, POTTAWATTAMIE IS PREPARING, TOO YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN PREPARING TO CLOSE EXITS ON HIGHWAY 680. >> NOW, WE’RE IN A SITUATION WHERE THE GROUNDS REAL -- GROUND IS REALLY SATURATED AGAIN, THE WATER’S COMING BACK UP, AND WE’RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS ON ROADS. EMILY: MILLS COUNTY HOPES AFTER THIS WEEK THE WATER LEVELS WILL START GOING DOWN. >> WE NEED TO GET TO 20-21 FEET MEASURED AT THAT GAGE TO GET DRAINAGE GOING FROM OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND GETTING THIS WATER OUT OF THE FARM FIELDS. EMILY: MILLS COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGERS ARE URGING RESIDENTS TO MONITOR THE RIVER AND THE COUNTY’S UPDATES. THEY SAY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS BRIEFED ON THE SITUATION IN CASE THEY NEED TO ASK FOR A LOCAL DISASTER DECLARATION LATER THIS WEEK. REPORTING LIVE NEAR PA