Montevideo Flood Waters Rise 3 Feet Higher Than Expected

MONTEVIDEO, Minn. - The Chippewa and Minnesota Rivers crested just under 21 feet Tuesday in Montevideo, according to city manager Steve Jones, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage.

Many parts of the city are still under water after the fourth biggest flood in Montevideo's history rose faster and higher than expected.

"We've got lakefront property now," Business owner Duane Hastad said.

Hastad owns a nursery in the "Smith Addition" of Montevideo, and now that business is right on water's edge.

"It's actually been pretty good, but it's been kind of nerve-racking the past couple days, because I thought it was over a few days ago," Hastad said.

Initial predictions said waters would only rise to about 18 feet; now the river waters are three feet higher and covering parts of Highway 212 and other streets and parks close to people's homes.

"It went up and up and up...and it rose to over 20 feet," Hastad said.

The city shut off sewer in the Smith Edition, and some people have left while others use "porta potties" set up in the street and are toughing it out.

"We're kind of on a little island here. Waters are coming from all directions. They're coming down both streets, and it's coming down the highway, but it's stopping," Hastad said.

City manager Steve Jones said the flooding could have been a lot worse under different conditions. If the Chippewa and Minnesota Rivers flooded at the same time the results would have been devastating.

"We had that potential this year, but it didn't happen, so we're lucky. Even with the high waters we have we are lucky," Jones said.

Waters have dropped about three inches since Tuesday morning's crest. Jones said the city can't turn sewers back on in the Smith Edition until waters drop to about 18 feet. He hopes that happens Friday.

Hastad said if waters continue to drop, they'll be in good shape, because they've survived worse.

"Personally at Heather Floral it really hasn't affected us except for a little stress, and we moved a couple things. In '97 we had 27 inches of water inside the building, and that was major," he said.

Jones said Montevideo could be at major flood stage for awhile depending on how fast the waters go down. As far as predictions go, another crest is not in the forecast right now.

Link for story and pic.

http://ksax.com/article/stories/S1482972.shtml?cat=10230