Another update from the Duluth News Tribune. O by the way, it's raining ...
Flash-flood warnings in the Duluth and North Shore areas have been extended until 10:30 p.m., the National Weather Service in Duluth said.
Another inch or more of rain is possible today.
Flooding already has caused massive damage in Duluth and surrounding areas, with roads crumbling, homes and businesses flooded, and zoo animals drowned.
Mayor Don Ness declared a state of emergency in the city of Duluth, citing “significant damage, debris and popped manholes.”
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said he will visit Duluth on Thursday to assess the flood damage.
“This morning my thoughts are with our friends and neighbors in Duluth and the surrounding region, as they respond to major flooding,” Dayton said in a statement. “I have spoken to Duluth Mayor Don Ness and have offered all possible state assistance now and during the recovery.”
On his Facebook page, Ness advised residents who live in a low area near the river to seek higher ground. He noted that crews are out in force and will be aided by people staying off the roads.
“We have a coordinated response with city, county, State Patrol, Coast Guard, Red Cross, and the feds ready to help,” Ness wrote. “I've been very impressed with the coordinated effort to this point. Thank you to the leaders from across the state offering their help and support. There is another band of rain on our way, so it is likely to get worse before it gets better.”
Evacuations are under way in the Fond du Lac neighborhood of Duluth and Thomson Township in Carlton County, and officials at the Lake Superior Zoo are assessing damage and counting their losses after animals drowned and some escaped in the flooding. Duluth fire and police crews helped zoo staff track down animals.
All animals are now accounted for.
At one point, the zoo’s polar bear, Berlin, was able to escape its exhibit. The female bear was darted by the zoo’s veterinarian and is safe in quarantine, said zoo spokeswoman Keely Johnson. None of the zoo’s dangerous animals got outside the perimeter fence, she said.
The Polar Shores exhibit, which housed the seals and Berlin, has been completely flooded out, according to zoo spokeswoman Keely Johnson. At one point the seal swam out of its exhibit and was found on Grand Avenue.
Johnson said many of the zoo’s animals have drowned, including all but one of the zoo’s barnyard animals. She said the zoo’s donkey, goats and sheep have died. She said it’s possible others have drowned, as flooding on the grounds have consumed some of the exhibits, such as the raven and vulture cages.
“Obviously, our entire staff is devastated,” said Peter Pruett, the zoo’s director of animal management.
Johnson said a culvert for Kingsbury Creek was backed up and caused the flooding, but that culvert is now completely washed out.
“The water is starting to recede a little bit,” Johnson said.
“It’s not going to get any better any time soon,” Dean Melde, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said shortly after 10 a.m. “In Duluth, we could easily see another 2 inches, and there’s a line of strong to severe storms forming to our west that could bring more.”
Melde said the recent downpour resulted from high levels of moisture in the atmosphere combined with strong lift from a low pressure system that has slowed the system to a crawl.
Although moisture levels are typically much drier during the winter, Melde said an inch of rain usually equates to between 10 and 12 inches of snow. So the current system could have dropped 60 and 70 inches of snow on Duluth.
Half of Duluth's Fond du Lac neighborhood is being evacuated — though it’s not mandatory — as the St. Louis River rises from above-normal dam discharges upstream. The dams are reported to not be in danger of failure, but Minnesota Power is releasing more water that may flood homes downstream. First United Methodist Church in Duluth — the “coppertop church” — is being used as an evacuation center.
Three Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles are en route to Duluth to prepare for mass feeding if necessary.
The Carlton County Sheriff's Office is recommending no travel in the county except in emergencies because of flooded roadways. The most-affected areas are across northern parts of the county; Highway 210 through Jay Cooke State Park is closed.
The Sheriff's Office is recommending that some residents of Thomson Township evacuate because of high water. Carlton High School has been opened up as an emergency shelter.
Internet and cell-phone service is out in Two Harbors and elsewhere in Lake County. Minnesota Highway 61 north of Duluth is detoured at Homestead Road into Two Harbors. The detour road is deteriorating, however, with continuing rain.
Lake Country Power said 300 of its members are without power, most of those in the Kettle River area.
The National Weather Service in Duluth reported just before 3 a.m. that “the flooding situation in Duluth continues to deteriorate.” A flash flood warning remains in effect until 4:30 p.m. today for the Twin Ports up the North Shore.
“This appears to be a flood reminiscent of the flood of 1972,” which devastated parts of the Duluth Hillside, the Weather Service reported. And with more storms lined up to the west, the situation may get worse yet this morning.
Among other key developments:
•East Ninth Street, where it crosses Chester Creek and turns into East Eight Street, was closed while the bridge there was inspected for damage, police said. Eighth Street was a river with water rushing down from the Chester Creek Café at 19th Avenue toward the bridge. Chester Parkway was closed as sides of the road gave way. In Chester Bowl, the picnic areas were flooded over picnic tables and trees were uprooted by landslides.
•Duluth International Airport canceled four inbound flights last night because of the severe weather, which means four outbound flights didn’t go out this morning, said Brian Ryks director of the airport.
The airport is expecting an 11 a.m. flight to arrive, and hopes to maintain its schedule throughout the day.
“As far as water issues, we haven’t had anything at the airport that’s been concerning,” Ryks said, of potential damage. “We’re in pretty good shape.”
•Duluth police are asking residents to stay home, traveling only in case of emergency. Calls to 911 should be for emergency purposes only, police stressed.
Heavy rainfall and flash floods have left some roads under water and have caused flooding, sinkholes, open manholes and mudslides, including along parts of Skyline Parkway. Parts of Interstate 35 in Duluth are closed. Many homes are reporting flooded basements.
There have been reports of homes evacuated because of flooding in other parts of the city of Duluth - including in the Mount Royal area.
The Duluth Police Department, Duluth Fire Department and city of Duluth staff are coordinating with local emergency crews.
•The state Emergency Operations Center has secured two pumps for St. Luke’s hospital in Duluth.
•The Superior Police Department reports many streets in Superior have water flowing over them or have washed out because of the extreme amount of rain that fell on Tuesday night and continues to fall.
The Blatnik Bridge detour route on Belknap Street, U.S. Highway 2, is affected near Poplar Avenue. Other main arteries, including Tower Ave near 46th Street, 28th Street near Superior High School and Hill Avenue between North 21st Street and Belknap Street are affected by the huge amount of runoff.
The Superior Public Works Department is working to put barricades in place to direct traffic away from or around affected areas.
•Serious flooding also was reported up the North Shore, in Two Harbors and north toward Silver Bay.
•The National Weather Service said the Flood River in Floodwood is over its banks and past flood stage and is starting to flood some homes there. The Weather Service also reports flooding in Grand Rapids, Nashwauk and Eveleth with many urban roads covered in water.
•The Weather Service reports that the White Pine River has overflowed its banks and flooded Minnesota Highway 33 north of Cloquet, forcing the road to be closed. There were reports of 2 to 3 feet of water over the roadway.
Authorities in Cloquet are evacuating campers in Spafford Park along the banks of the rapidly rising St. Louis River, according to the Pine Journal.
•Both the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District and city of Duluth have experienced sewage overflows due to the massive amount of rainwater infiltrating the sanitary sewage system. While the systems’ new overflow tanks held during heavy rain in April and May, this record rainfall was simply too much, said Karen Anderson, WLSSD spokeswoman.
“We don’t even know the extent of it yet because it’s too dangerous to be out checking in some spots,’’ Anderson said.
The city cautions residents against playing in standing water, which might be contaminated by sewage.
•The Miller Hill Mall has no electricity and is closed.
•The office of Minnesota Management and Budget is reporting all state offices in the executive branch in the city of Duluth will be closed until noon today. Employees and the public are asked to monitor
www.bereadymn.com.
•The University of Minnesota Duluth and the University of Wisconsin Superior, Duluth City Hall and the St. Louis County Courthouse are closed today. See a fuller list of closings at duluthnewstribune.com
•Keene Creek has overflowed Morris Thomas Road west of Johnson Street in Hermantown.
•Woodland Avenue is flooded at St. Marie Street.
li>Morgan Park is blocked off as of 8 a.m. Wednesday.
•Water is running over parts of Grand and Commonwealth avenues, but traffic is moving.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the St. Louis County Public Works Department report these closings:
Midway Road has been closed between Trunk Highway 2 and Interstate 35. The Midway River is overtopping the road.
London Road at 43rd Avenue East
Highway 53 near Miller Hill Mall
Highway 33 in Cloquet
Highway 33 at milepost 9 near Independence
Interstate 35 in Duluth, from Central Avenue to 26th Avenue East / London Road and between Carlton and Mahtowa
Highway 2 from I-35 to Boundary Avenue (downbound only) in Proctor
Highway 2 from the Iron Horse Bar and Grill to the golf course
Highway 23 south of Duluth
Highway 23 in Fond du Lac
Highway 210 completely closed through Jay Cooke State Park
Highway 61 near Silver Cliff Tunnel
Highway 61 at Knife River
Highway 200 between Hwy 2 and Hwy 65
Highway 73 closed at four locations --- reference posts 31.5, 46.3, and 47.4
Highway 65 from reference posts 107 to 112.6, closed under two feet of water
Highway 2 between reference posts 220.7 through 232.0 completely closed
The Blatnik and Bong bridges remain open.
Numerous road shoulders are also washed out due to flooding. Travel is not advised due to flooding until conditions improve and MnDOT crews can make progress to recover roadways.
Motorists should plan accordingly. When a road is closed, it is illegal to travel in that area. Motorists can be fined up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail. In addition, if travelers need to be rescued from a closed road, other expenses and penalties will apply. For updated information, call 511 or visit
www.511mn.org.
News Tribune staff writers Brandon Stahl, Peter Passi and Jana Hollingsworth contributed to this report.
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Topic: Major damage from rain in Duluth (Read 4027 times)
