The Mahaska County Emergency Management office says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Red Rock is going to be opening the dam approximately 10,000 cubic feet per second a day until they reach 60,000 on June 12, then possibly 70,000 cubic feet per second by Friday.

What does this mean?

Currently, the river is sitting at 14.68 feet with a projected elevation to 21.50 feet by Tuesday, June 17. This figure is based on no more rain and the maximum cubic fee per second of 70,000. In the floods of 1993, the crests was 24.16 feet with the Red Rock dam letting out 105,000 cubic feet per second so Mahaska County shouldn’t be affected like it was then, but there will still be some areas that are flooded. According to the Des Moines National Weather Service Web site, when the Des Moines River crests at 20 feet, the homes located in Bellefountain and southeast of the Tracy’s gage site will be affected.

What’s going on?

Ongoing surveillance of the situation, the EMA’s office has been monitoring the water’s level and it’s predicted level every couple of hours. Currently, there are some families gathering stuff from their homes and preparing to leave the area. Some low-lying areas along the Des Moines River are already starting to get water over the bank, causing some to evacuate. Emergency Management has coordinated with the American Red Cross, Oskaloosa Chapter, and have a shelter ready to go in the event people have no place to go. Sheriff Paul DeGeest and First Deputy Trevor Wells have been out since 9 a.m. Tuesday morning personally going door to door to alert citizens along the river of what is going on.

What to do?

Prepare! Monitor local news or check out the Des Moines National Weather Service Web site for information. If you are in these areas, make preparations to leave if the water is approaching, contact family members and have a place to go ready. If you have nowhere to go, contact the Mahaska County 911 center at (641) 673-0347 for shelter (don’t call 911 for sheltering). The shelter will be located at the United Methodist Church in Beacon, located at 417 Kilborn St. The American Red Cross will be on hand, they ask that you please bring your own blanket, pillow and other personal things you might need while staying there.

Red Cross Executive Director Nancy Place says, if possible, bring with you any medicines needed by members of the family, feeding formulas for infants, a pillow and blanket for each member of the family, a change of clothing, and books and simple toys for your children. Public health requirements do not permit us to accept pets in shelters.

If there are any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the Mahaska County Emergency Management Office.