By KTIV Staff
Published: Jun. 21, 2024 at 8:59 PM CDT
UPDATE (4:25 P.M.)
ROCK VALLEY, Iowa (KTIV) - In Rock Valley, Iowa, emergency alerts went out at 2 a.m. Saturday morning, June 22, to warn people they needed to evacuate because of flooding. Since then, crews worked to rescue the residents caught in the flood.
All residents in Rock Valley living north of Highway 18 were asked to evacuate as flood waters rose rapidly. To help with this, fire rescue teams from surrounding cities were sent to Rock Valley, as well as Iowa Task Force 1. Trucks, boats, and even tractors were used to wade through the water.
“The river rose to historic levels that we’ve never seen here before. It’s hard to deal with that much water, it’s a monumental undertaking,” said Rock Valley Police Chief Monte Warburton. “We were shocked by the amount of water that’s hit us. We were not expecting the water to get as high as it did.”
“It’s been building up for a couple of weeks, our river was very high. And about 1 o’clock last night we had a berm break; and the water started coming up, it was raining very heavily, we got about four inches of rain last night. Water was pouring in from every direction and we just couldn’t keep up,” said Rock Valley Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo.
With multiple crews working together, city officials told us at 3:30 p.m. Saturday that the Rock Valley’s residents affected by flooding were evacuated and out of harm’s way.
“We’ve done approximately 20 rescues since we’ve been here. Most of the water is to the top of people’s front doors and most of the people we’ve evacuated were on the second floor and we’re able to get them down. But there’s cars everywhere underneath the water that we don’t see. And if there’s any manhole covers that have come up that we can’t see. We just have to be careful not to go into those areas,” said Lt. Joe Rodriguez of Sioux City Fire Rescue and Iowa Task Force 1. Several members of Sioux City Fire Rescue were sent to Rock Valley to help.
Chief Warburton and Mayor Van Otterloo say it was thanks to area first responders helping the community that residents were able to get out of their homes safely. He says the quick-rising water caught a lot of people off guard.
In 2014, Rock Valley was hit with a flood that saw about 16 feet of water sweep through the town. In preparation, residents set out sandbags on their berm to bring it up to a foot above what they experienced a decade ago. But it was no match to the 22 feet of water that came rushing into the town.
“We got as prepared as we could. We were hoping that was going to hold it but the water level just kept going up. And when we got the rain coming in from the sides, we just couldn’t hold it,” said Mayor Van Otterloo.
“We’re just praying that the water goes down. We hope that it recedes at the same rate that it came up,” added Chief Warburton.
According to the city’s Facebook page, city personnel are asking residents to stay out of the flooded areas until the all-clear has been given since the water in the area is still making things dangerous. Officials say if you live in Rock Valley but need to leave, you can get back into the city so long as you have your ID.
As of Saturday afternoon, Rock Valley does not need any volunteers within the city because they still are evaluating the situation. Officials say they are also not accepting donations right now as they still coordinating efforts, but that information will be released later, just keep an eye on their Facebook page.
PREVIOUS (11 A.M.)
Rock Valley authorities are giving more details on rescue efforts as flood waters continue to rise.
“We were shocked by the amount of water that hit us,” Rock Valley Police Chief Monte Warburton told KTIV Saturday morning. “We were not expecting the water to get as high as it did.”
Chief Warburton says the Rock River has risen to historic levels “that we’ve never seen here before”. He called the rescue efforts a “monumental undertaking” to get his residents to safety.
The police chief credits area first responders for helping the community get residents out of their homes safely as the water rose quickly and caught a lot of people off guard.
The city is without power and water. Thankfully, no major injuries have been reported in the flooding.
“We will get through it. We will rebuild. We have a great community and we will shine,” Chief Warburton said.
Rock Valley Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo said a levee broke overnight increasing the water levels in the town.
Mayor Van Otterloo said volunteers helped sand bag the levee but the water levels rose above that.
The city last experienced a historic flood in 2014, Mayor Van Otterloo telling KTIV this flood has already crested that by several feet.
“It’s neighbors helping neighbors,” Van Otterloo said about the overwhelming support the city has seen from the region in the last several hours.
Van Otterloo says some people have had to be rescued from their roofs.
KTIV has a team on the ground in Rock Valley and will provide the latest information online and on the air.
PREVIOUS (JUNE 22, 6 A.M.)
All residents in Rock Valley living north of Highway 18 have been asked to evacuate as flood waters continue to rise.
The City of Rock Valley have made the new announcement on the city Facebook Page.
You can see the evacuation map in the image above and also by following the link here.
If residents to not have another home to go to, they can go to Trinity Reformed Church, 2020 8th St SE, Rock Valley, IA 51247 for shelter.
The City of Rock Valley IS NOT requesting large ski boats or jet skis to assist with evacuations. Rescue boats and dive teams are already in the water and evacuation plans are in place.
According to the City of Rock Valley Facebook Page: Evacuating our citizens who are still needing assistance is our number one priority right now. Currently we have dive teams, swift boats and task force teams in the water and evacuation plans are in place. Using pickups, tractors, trucks or loaders is no longer an option for evacuation because of the water current and height. Please know all boats and teams are doing all they can to get to each and every one of your loved ones.
If you or family members are still waiting to be evacuated please call (712) 737-3307 and give them your name and location.
A disaster proclamation for Sioux County has been issued from Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Follow the City of Rock Valley Facebook Page for the latest information.
Please stay with KTIV for the latest information by downloading our weather app here or our news app here.
FRIDAY, JUNE 21: Due to flooding, emergency evacuations have been issued to ensure the safety of residents in Rock Valley, Iowa.
Not all residents are being evacuated, the map below shows the evacuation plan for Rock Valley. The areas in red are the ones included in the emergency evacuation.
- Go immediately to the home of a friend or relative outside the evacuation area (Residents can also go to the shelter located at Faith Reformed Church located at 1305 7th St, Rock Valley, IA 51247
- If residents need transportation, call 712-737-3307.
- Any resident that refuses to evacuate during the emergency evacuation will need to sign a refusal agreement.
For further information, residents can call Kris Gesink at 712-441-1326 or email kgesink@gmail.com
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