Entire Missouri town evacuated as historic flooding rages on throughout the central US

Historic river flooding persisted throughout the north-central United States following a 'bomb cyclone' that struck the region last week. The recent storms triggered massive snowmelt and dropped heavy rain that have both overwhelmed rivers and waterways.

On Wednesday, a mandatory evacuation was ordered in the small Missouri town of Craig as the Missouri River rose, according to the Holt County Sheriff’s Department. The town of about 250 residents is located about 110 miles north of Kansas City, Missouri.

Later on Wednesday, residents of another small Missouri town evacuated due to the approaching Missouri River. Officials say that most of the roughly 130 residents of Lewis and Clark Village evacuated to higher ground, the Kansas City Star reports.

The flooding along the Missouri River also led to the suspension of passenger rail traffic along a popular Missouri route.

Amtrak said Tuesday that it was temporarily suspending its Missouri River Runner Service between Kansas City and St. Louis due to the flooding. Chartered buses will substitute transportation for the Missouri River Runner trains through Sunday, March 24.

The City of Saint Paul in Minnesota declared a local flood emergency on Wednesday in response to the forecasted spring flooding as the Mississippi River rises with rapidly melting snow.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds extended the disaster proclamation on Tuesday to an additional five counties impacted by the recent flooding. The governor has issued proclamations for 41 of Iowa’s 99 counties.

Ninety-five percent of Nebraska’s population, nearly 2 million residents, has been affected by the recent storms. The impact of the flooding is affecting 59,088 square miles, just over 75 percent of Nebraska.

As of Tuesday evening, 74 counties, 83 cities and four tribal areas in Nebraska were under states of emergency, according to the State of Nebraska Government Page.

Nebraska is one of at least 14 states affected by the recent storms and historic river flooding that has overwhelmed much of the north-central United States.

At least 14 states have flood warnings in effect in the central U.S., according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The flood warnings span from South Dakota and Minnesota southward to Louisiana, as well as in Wisconsin and Michigan.

Many areas throughout the central U.S. have been affected by the flooding, but communities around eastern Nebraska and western Iowa have been hit the hardest since the 'bomb cyclone' struck last week.

On Wednesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed an emergency executive order to provide aerial assistance to Nebraska. The order came after Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts requested Minnesota Army National Guard helicopter support. It will remain in effect until the emergency flood conditions in Nebraska subside.

At least three fatalities have been reported in Nebraska as a result of the flooding, according to KMTV in Omaha.

Hundreds of people have been forced to evacuate as rivers have overflowed their banks and multiple levees have failed. About 200 miles of levees were compromised, either breached or overtopped, in four states, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said.

Hundreds of homes and buildings are flooded. Many roads remain impassable. State and local officials warn pedestrians and motorists to stay updated on closures and conditions.

The flooding has also taken a heavy toll on agriculture. Floodwaters have inundated thousands of acres of farmland, threatening stockpiled grain and killing livestock.

Steve Nelson, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, says farm and ranch losses due to the devastating flooding could reach $1 billion in Nebraska, according to The Associated Press.

According to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, flood damages have reached $1.3 billion as of Wednesday.

Water and sewer problems caused by the flooding continued on Tuesday in regions throughout Nebraska, the Omaha World-Herald reports. The shortage of fresh water forced residents and businesses to ration water or resort to using portable showers and toilets.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday that six public drinking water systems aren’t in operation. Nearly 50 wastewater treatment facilities have reported problems, including cases where wastewater isn’t being fully treated before it’s discharged, according to the Omaha World-Herald.

Some residents in the northern Illinois community of Roscoe have been forced to leave their homes on boats as the Rock River flooded the surrounding area, the AP reported.

In nearby Freeport, more than 170 people have been forced out of their homes as the Pecatonica River reached its highest level since 1933. Freeport City Manager Lowell told the AP that about 20 families have decided to stay in the flooded area.

Local and state government in the affected regions have declared states of emergency.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Newaygo County in western Michigan on Tuesday after heavy rain and melting snow caused flooding, the (AP) reports.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts submitted an expedited request to the federal government for disaster assistance following the historic flooding.

On Tuesday, Ricketts met with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Director Paul Taylor, to whom he submitted the request. The request now goes to FEMA’s regional office and headquarters for consideration.

Vice President Mike Pence flew to Omaha, Nebraska, to survey the damage in the region on late Tuesday afternoon with Ricketts and Reynolds. While there, Pence viewed the raging river and visited local shelters.

Pence made a stop on their tour of flood damage to meet with the Waterloo Fire and Rescue.

Pence called the area the "heart of the Heartland" and thanked the first responders for their diligent work. He also spoke to the governors of Nebraska and Iowa to assure them that the Trump administration will expedite federal aid and presidential disaster declarations for their states.

Pence tweeted during his visit that he and President Trump "are with the impacted communities and will remain with them as they recover."

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