“At this point, its all up to mother nature”. That’s the bottom line comment from one Des Moines, Iowa official, as city leaders wait to see just how bad the flooding will get. The river has already crested here, but local weathermen are predicting 100% precipitation Friday night, with more rain through the weekend. All that water, added to the large amount of melted snow already filling up reservoirs, could send a lot more water surging into local rivers, and spilling over into the city. Right now, the main road from the Des Moines, Iowa airport leading toward the city, is shut down, as water covers what is typically a park with biking and running paths. People in this midwest city are on edge, after seeing the damage caused by major flooding, in 2008. The Army Corp of Engineers statewide is on alert. Levees have been built, so now its just a matter of seeing if they’re strong enough. One factor that could help the situation; temperatures are dropping quickly in Iowa, which would slow the melting snow and reduce flood concerns. The picture above shows correspondent Peter Doocy and photographer Glenn “Dutch” Wargo covering flooding from the Des Moines river.
Click here to see video of the fast moving Des Moines river, as it flows over what is supposed to be a park: