T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS — The Iowa River north of Marshalltown is once again swollen after rains last week and this week. The river was at “action” stage as of Wednesday afternoon with weather reports predicting more rain to come.

High water and lowland flooding have seemed more the norm than the exception in the past several months in Central Iowa.

The Iowa River and surrounding creeks run higher before, but recent rains have again swelled their waters to “action” stage.

“Our flooding isn’t as bad as it could be, but our ground saturation is such that any little bit of rain just runs off,” said Marshall County Emergency Management Coordinator Kim Elder. “Because of the saturated ground, we can have a lesser amount of rain and still have flash flooding because it just runs off so fast.”

That saturation has been courtesy of several seasons of precipitation.

“We had a wet fall, we had a very heavy snow pack over the winter which melted, and we’ve had a very wet spring,” Elder said.

People who encounter a flooded area should find an alternative route and not go through water of unknown depth or current, Elder said. She said the water itself is not the only potential danger and water-damaged roads can also be a hazard.

A person who gets stuck in high water puts themselves and rescue personnel in a dangerous situation, Elder said.

Another hazard the saturated ground brings is cutting off electricity. That can be especially bad when residents need to pump water out of a basement without power.

Rain and flooding are not the only hazards for Central Iowans to watch out for as summer approaches. The state has already experienced multiple tornadoes and strong thunderstorms this year.

“You don’t want to wait til the storm is upon to find where your safe zone is,” Elder said.

She said tornado hazards in particular have become a real concern for area residents as a result of the July 19 storm. Elder said she is happy to share information about tornado and storm readiness.

Marshall County Emergency Management can be reached at 641-754-6385.

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Contact Adam Sodders at

641-753-6611 or

asodders@timesrepublican.com