SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — UPDATE (6/27/2024 @ 4:35 p.m.): Woodbury County Emergency Management has provided several updates following recent flooding.
The shelter at the Tyson Events Center will relocate to Sacred Heart Church at 5010 Military Road starting at 6 p.m. Thursday. The city will provide transportation for displaced people.
Roads are starting to open back up. The Iowa Department of Transportation has reopened I-29 northbound at Hamilton Boulevard, according to a release. Additionally, the Military Road Bridge opened back up Wednesday, and Sioux City Transit will now be taking passengers to North Sioux City again.
The most up-to-date status on roads in Woodbury County can be found by clicking here.
More roll-off containers are being provided for residents to drop off trash and household debris. 24 additional containers are being placed around and near Riverside at these locations:
- River Drive at the Wright Avenue intersection
- Dacotah Avenue at the LaPlante Avenue intersection
- Florence Avenue at the Cavalier Way intersection
- Beck Street near the River Drive South intersection
- Beck Street, between Florence Avenue and River Drive
- Hanford Street, between Florence Avenue and River Drive
- Cavalier Way, between Florence Avenue and River Drive
Law enforcement is also asking the general public to stay away from flooded areas.
UPDATE (6/26/2024 @ 3:23 p.m.): The City of Sioux City and Gill Hauling are organizing cleanup efforts for the Riverside area following recent severe flooding.
According to a release, any debris or waste can be taken to the Jackson Landfill at 1402 US-20 in Jackson, Neb. Disposal is free, but residents will need to show some form of ID or proof of residency in the affected Riverside area.
Another location available for disposal is at the Citizen’s Convenience Center in Sioux City, located at 5800 28th Street. Residents will also need to show an ID or proof of residency for free disposal here.
Due to water levels restricting access, Gill Hauling may not be able to collect trash curbside at some homes. In these cases, trash and household debris can be dropped off at roll-off containers in Goldie Park. Four other locations will be available by the end of Thursday, the city says:
- River Drive at the Wright Avenue intersection
- Dacotah Avenue at the LaPlante Avenue intersection
- Florence Avenue at the Cavalier Way intersection
- Beck Street near the River Drive South intersection
For more information, the city asks residents to call the Environmental Services Division at 712-279-6222 or Gill Hauling at 712-279-0151. For information specific to the Jackson Landfill, call 402-259-0026. For information specific to the Citizen’s Convenience Center, call 712-255-8345.
UPDATE (6/26/2024 @ 2:20 p.m.): As flood waters recede in Sioux City and Woodbury Counties, officials are providing another update Wednesday afternoon in a joint release.
Highway 20 and county roads
Roads all over the county are beginning to open up, including Highway 20 in Correctionville. The Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office announced the opening earlier Wednesday.
Even as floodwaters are leaving roads, barricades will remain in place at the Correctionville entry points to keep non-resident from entering the community.
Here is a map showing Woodbury County roads and any closures.
Law enforcement continues to ask the public to stay away from all flooded areas so crews can continue to assist with recovery and conduct damage assessments.
Riverside inspections
In the Riverside neighborhood of Sioux City, the release said that inspectors and MidAmerican Energy are going door to door to check if it’s safe to restore power to affected homes. Anyone without electricity are asked to set up and inspection by calling the Sioux City Inspections Division at 712-224-5216. If gas is needing to be restored, residents should contact MidAmerican Energy.
Reporting damage
Officials said anyone who experienced water damage, even to basem*nts, should report it to the Iowa State Office of Emergency Services by clicking here. Officials said that the damage isn’t restricted to the voluntary evacuation area. With the damage data entered, the appropriate amount of resources will be sent to Siouxland.
Removing water from homes
Officials are warning for anyone affected by flooding, officials warn to not remove water all at once. They understand that people want to remove water from their home as soon as possible, they say that removing water all at once could cause structural damage to the house, collapsing cellar walls, floors and foundation. In the release, they recommend draining water slowly so as to equalize pressure on both sides of the wall.
Officials provided the following steps when pumping basem*nts.
- Begin pumping when floodwaters are no longer covering the ground outside.
- Pump out 1 foot of water. Mark the water level and wait overnight.
- Check the water level the next day. If the level went back up (covered your mark)
it is still too early to drain your basem*nt. - Wait 24 hours and then pump the water down 1 foot again. Check the level the
next day. - When the water in the basem*nt stops returning to your mark, pump out two to 3
feet and wait overnight. - Repeat daily until all the water is out of the basem*nt. It is understandable that
people are anxious to return home and begin the cleanup, but we urge caution,
as the expense of rebuilding collapsed walls could be more than the cost of
cleanup from the flood.
Cleaning and health
While cleaning homes from any water damage, people are recommended to take precautions so as not to get sick. People are recommended to stay out of flood waters as any prolonged exposure could cause flu-like symptoms, the joint release says. People are also asked to thoroughly wash their hands after cleaning homes.
The Siouxland District Health Department has a webpage with resources of how to recover and clean after flooding.
The City of Sioux City/Woodbury County Emergency Operations Center will continue to
be staffed 24 hours a day to assist local responders and answer questions of the public.
The phone number for non-emergency flood information is 712-224-5262.
If there is anyone who want to donate, there are plenty of resources available, including the Siouxland Recovery Fund. You can read about more resources available to Siouxlanders here.
UPDATE (6/25/2024 @ 10:20 p.m.): According to the National Water Prediction Service, the Big Sioux River in Sioux City has dropped below 41 feet. This takes it out of the “Major Flood Stage” designation.
UPDATE (6/25/2024 @ 12:05 p.m.): The City of Sioux City and Woodbury County Emergency Management have provided new details on the status of flooding in the area.
According to the release, they state that water levels at the Big Sioux River and Missouri River have begun to recede. The City also reports that water is no longer overtopping the levees on North River Drive.
They currently have pumps going to keep water near South River Drive as low as possible.
The city reports that 49 homes have been directly impacted between Florence Avenue and River Drive South. The City states that they believe that residents should be able to return to their homes, except for in the previously mentioned area.
In the rest of Woodbury County, residents in Correctionville and Smithland are still under voluntary evacuation. The county continues to work with leaders to help residents in the area.
Several roads near these communities and in rural Woodbury County will remain closed. The County urges residents not to drive around barricades block off closed roads. Those caught doing so will be subject to penalties for violating these orders.
Here is a map showing Woodbury County roads and any closures.
Watch a replay of Tuesday’s Sioux City, Woodbury County flooding update below.
Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan asked people to not be touring flooded and damaged areas.
“First of all, if you don’t belong there, stay out of there. There’s peoples’ lives who are being swept down the rivers right now, and the last thing they want to see is gawkers and people, you know, just want to see what it looks like. Visit one of our Facebook pages. We’re showing drones and everything. So stay out of the area.”
If you are still unable to get to your home, the Tyson Events Center remains as a shelter for those who are displaced. The City said that there were 13 individuals that used the Tyson as a shelter Monday night. The Red Cross and Salvation Army are at the shelter to help provide to needs.
If you find any damage in your home, the release states that you should report the damage to the Iowa State Office of Emergency Services. Flood water damage outside of voluntary evacuation areas, even if it’s water in your basem*nt, should be reported.
At a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Sioux City Fire Chief Mark Aesoph explained why.
“We need to know about damage,” Aesoph said. “Any flood damage we’d like reported, even if you were not directly in the area that had street flooding. If you got damage in your basem*nt, we want to know about it. What that does is it builds up and it can determine the resources that can head our way to help with recovery.”
Damage can be reported by clicking here.
As waters recede and people can get back to their homes, they will start a recovery process. The Siouxland District Health Department has a website with resources of how to recover from flooding.
Woodbury County EMA Management Coordinator Michael Montino expresses his gratitude for all city and county leaders and officials who are working together.
“I am so grateful for the entities that have came together during this disaster event. Again, because it’s unprecedented, a lot of the models we’ve been looking at are based on historical data, and again, it is very difficult to predict, but I am hopeful across the board, we are starting to see those rivers and streams levels start to decrease so that way, we can begin our recovery process.”
Residents can apply for additional aid through the Siouxland Recovery Fund.
Officials will continue to monitor the flood, assist officials, and provide information. You can reach out to officials for flood information at 712-224-5262.
You can read about more resources available to Siouxlanders here.
UPDATE (6/24/2024 @3:42 p.m.): Sioux City officials provided an update Monday afternoon on flooding conditions at Riverside.
In a release, the city said that the Big Sioux City River was at an elevation of 44.5 feet, about a half-foot lower that it’s highest point yet. This height is still above the major flood stage of 41 feet.
Water is continuing to top the levee on North River Drive and is expected to do so for several more hours. The city is using pumps to help keep water levels near South River Drive as low as possible.
Firs responders checked all homes that have been evacuated in the area. The release said that 17 people were assisted by boat.
It will still take several hours to pump water from the lower-laying areas once water stops entering the area of the overtopped levee. Affected residents will be alerted by media and social media when it is safe to return to those affected areas.
Any displaced residents can go to the Tyson Events Center which remains open as a shelter.
The city is working to provide more information in the week for long-term recovery.
People are asked to stay away from the Riverside area and all flooded areas. Crews are performing damage assessments in the Riverside area.
UPDATE (6/24/2024 @12:49 p.m.): KCAU 9 is keeping an eye on Riverside as floodwaters crept into the Sioux City neighborhood.
Below is drone video of the neighborhood and of the Big Sioux River. Watch them below.
Riverside neighborhood along Big Sioux River, pt.1
Riverside neighborhood along Big Sioux River, pt.2
Riverside neighborhood along Big Sioux River, pt.3
Riverside neighborhood along Big Sioux River, pt.4
UPDATE (6/24/2024 @9:10 a.m.): The City of Sioux City released an update on the conditions of the flooding in Riverside.
The Big Sioux River at Riverside crested at 45 feet around 8 a.m. Monday morning, according to a press release from the City of Sioux City. This is over seven feet higher than the previous record of 37.7 feet.
“We are really looking at unprecedented times right now. It’s been difficult to predict what’s going to happen when levels are this high when we have no history with it,” said Sioux City Fire Chief Mark Aesoph at a Monday morning press conference.
Officials said that while the levels have stabilized, water levels will remain high for eight to twelve hours.
Barriers were built to 46 feet along North River Drive. East of the constructed barrier, water has begun to overtop the levee in a low-lying area. This water is now beginning to build within the levee area, and coming up through storm drains in the lowest elevations of Riverside.
Due to this, a mandatory evacuation has been ordered for areas near South River Drive. Door-to-door notifications are being made, but emergency messaging will be used if conditions change rapidly.
Officials had a press conference about conditions in Sioux City and the rest of Woodbury County. Watch it below.
All residents of Riverside should be prepared to evacuate quickly in case it is needed. Residents should take Military Road out of the area and a shelter has been set up at the Tyson Events Center. Buses are available for residents who need transportation.
In partnership with Iowa Homeland Security, residents in Riverside were alerted at 2:00 a.m. through Alert Iowa and local media to prepare for an evacuation.
The City of Sioux City encourages residents to gather medicine and important items and be ready to move quickly.
The Emergency Operations Center has been monitoring, and coordinating resources, information, and communication all weekend. The Red Cross and medical personnel are at the Tyson Events Center to assist those displaced. Sioux City Fire Rescue and the Sioux City Police Department have staged additional resources in Riverside to monitor and to assist with evacuations.
Aesoph is encouraging all Riverside residents to prepare to move quickly in case if conditions suddenly change. Authorities will continue to go door-to-door as water rises in different areas.
He also asked everyone to avoid the Riverside area and all flooded areas as it causing issues for officials.
“It’s hard enough to get our resources in there and the people out if needed when the area is just jam-packed with people that are just there to look. So, please avoid all of the flooded areas. Just get out, please,” Aesoph said.
Non-emergency calls regarding flooding may be directed to the Woodbury County Emergency Management Operations Center at 712-224-5262.
UPDATE (6/24/2024 @4:19 a.m.): Some residents of Riverside are being told to evacuate as flooding continues to occur throughout the metro.
Woodbury County Emergency Management issued a warning at around 1:30 a.m. Monday morning that residents in Riverside should be prepared to evacuate. Some residents have told KCAU 9 that they have since been told to evacuate.
Emergency Management said that the Tyson Events Center is being opened as a place for people to take shelter. Pets are welcome.
Woodbury County Emergency Management said that those evacuating out of Riverside should do so by taking Military Road.
They also said to make sure you remember your medication, identification, phone, and phone charger.
