Flood Warning Continues in Raccoon River Basin after Torrential Rains (Video)

No matter how many years separate me and the farm of my childhood, alarm bells always sound in my head when I hear of a torrential rainfalls upstream of whatever river I’m living near.

The Nodaway river was a nasty, narrow channel that spilled out of its banks with some frequency, often drowning what would have been a bumper crop on my dad’s rich, black bottom ground. Our family’s well-being depended on the Nodaway behaving.

So I worry about rivers, still.

The immediate threat of flooding has passed, but the National Weather Service said Monday continued its flood warning in the Raccoon River basin, which includes parts of West Des Moines.

The river was expected to crest Monday after heavy rains upstream over the weekend sent river levels up quickly and, in some cases, out of the banks. More rain in the watershed over the next 24 hours could send them higher. Locally, the next real threat of rain is Saturday.

Rain forecasts are slightly higher in places like Jefferson and Carroll, Weather Underground reported.

George Flagg Parkway, the back way many West Des Moines residents use to avoid heavy traffic during daily commutes, is closed. The city of Des Moines said that the speed of the river, combined with a heavy amount of debris in the current, make for dangerous conditions, and encouraged motorists not drive past barricades..

A reminder to motorists: if you encounter a flooded area, turn around and find an alternate route – “turn around; do not drown.”