Mississippi crests in Red Wing at highest levels since 2001
RED WING, Minn. -- City officials in Red Wing say they're breathing a sigh of relief after the worst flood since 2001 left them only with minimal cleanup to do.
The Mississippi River crested in Red Wing Tuesday at a decades-long high of 16.8 feet. While it's past the "Major" flood distinction and forced roads and nearby parks to close, the city's Deputy Director of Public Services says a number of large concerns were avoided.
Namely, the city's wastewater treatment plant, which could have been impacted by floodwaters should they have reached 18 feet.
"I feel like we weathered the storm fairly well," Red Wing deputy director of public services Lynn Nardinger said. "Very fortunate that it wasn't worse."
Nardinger says a lack of ground frost and already low water reservoir levels helped keep the surge's impact to a minimum.
"We're waiting for the water to recede and see what kind of damage we have," he said.
Nardinger says the city anticipates water levels to drop by more than a foot in a week's time. Within the next month, he's hopeful the city can begin cleaning areas of waterfront parks closed due to flooding.