Save Iowa

The City of Ames inundated by Floodwaters

Posted on 11. Aug, 2010 by admin in News and Links, Save Iowa

Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes in Ames early Wednesday after three to five inches of rain pushed Squaw Creek and Skunk River to break their banks. Sandbagging is underway, but water is already up to car windshields.

Several buildings on the Iowa State University campus, such as Hilton Coliseum where the Cyclones play basketball, are besieged by water. It was reported via Twitter that there is currently five feet of water inside the building, causing the floor of the basketball court to float.

“This is a particularly dangerous situation,” said Ames Fire Chief Clint Petersen.

The Iowa Department of Transportation closed Interstate 35 just south of Ames, and as well as both lanes of U.S. 30 are also closed from I-35 to U.S. 69.

Adding to the chaos, city officials are now worried about a mysterious leak draining one of the city’s water towers. Ames Mayor Ann Campbell said this afternoon that the water tower at State Street and Mortensen Road is “reducing rapidly” due to a broken water main pipe.

ISU football players were stacking sandbags around the football stadium Wednesday in an effort to help save buildings. The University of Iowa has offered to help ISU and the city of Ames with flooding issues on campus.

The above pictures are compliments of The Troendles photostream on Flickr.