Flooded Faribault Bracing For More Rain
FARIBAULT, Minn. (WCCO) -- After a soggy week, southern Minnesota is preparing for another wet night. Flood watches and warnings have already been posted.
Saturday Sen. Amy Klobuchar was in Rice County looking at some of the damage done earlier this week from floods.
And, the southern half of the state could see more rain tonight.
The biggest problem in Faribault, Minnesota, is the Cannon River.
After a downpour Thursday night, residents and businesses in Faribault are preparing for another round of rain.
"Because I see tonight it's going to rain again and it's just waiting, since we've been through it a couple of times," said Mary Steil. "The wait, just to see how bad it's going to be."
The Faribault woolen mill was open Saturday but surrounded by sandbags and flood water.
"If it was just a one time deal, probably be OK," Klobuchar said, "but if it keeps raining, like it's supposed to do tonight, that is not good."
Klobuchar was in town to visit with the mayor and take a look at some of the flood damage. She toured a water pollution control plant where a berm is keeping the river from flooding into the wastewater.
"If they were not able to build this berm here and put this dirt up so fast, it would have been literally millions and millions of dollars of damage in one minute," Klobuchar said.
The threat of more rain in the southern part of the state has highway officials concerned.
"Just a few inches of rain can either stall out a car or even carry a car away if there is any kind of current," said Doug Neville with the Department of Public Safety.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation has teams out surveying bridges and roads in the event of more flooding.
Safety officials are advising drivers to be smart if they come across flooding or closed roads.
"The safest thing to do is just to turn around and not even attempt to go through that water," Neville said.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Rice County that goes until 8 a.m. Sunday.
There are several warnings for the southern half of the state so if you do have to travel and come across a flooded road, remember it's not worth the risk and to turn around.
About 20 miles northeast in Northfield, the mayor has declared a state of emergency as residents wait for the Cannon River to crest.
Some businesses along the river have had to close from ground water that is coming up because it has nowhere else to go.
While the entire community has pitched in to sandbag, business owners are holding their breath hoping the river does not rise much before it crests.
