Xcel Energy sandbagged its electrical substation near the Straight River in preparation for spring flooding. See the green, fenced enclosures next to the building. Last fall this substation flooded during a flash flood.
UNLESS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE changes its forecast, a flood warning that covers Rice County expires at 3:30 p.m. Friday.
That’s good news for Faribault, where residents and officials have been nervously watching the rising, and now receding, Cannon and Straight Rivers that run through town.
Six months ago, those rivers rushed over their banks during a September flash flood, threatening homes and businesses and actually flooding some. Sewage also backed up in to homes and the city’s wastewater treatment plant was compromised. Because of the sudden nature of that flood, my community was not fully prepared.
This spring, though, following a winter of heavy snowfall and then a quick snow melt, officials had emergency plans in place to deal with possible flooding. They had even recruited students to fill sandbags, stockpiled at a local park for residential use.
They were ready. Ready is good.
Better to be safe than sorry.
Here’s a look at some river and preparedness scenes I shot near the Cannon and Straight Rivers Wednesday evening.
If we don’t get another major storm—rain or snow— and the weather stays cold, slowing the snow melt, I think we should be OK here in Faribault, meaning no need to worry about flooding.
But then that can change on a dime, and I’ve heard predictions of another possible river crest next week.
And so we wait…prepared.
Student volunteers and others filled sandbags, available to residents who needed them. These were stockpiled at South Alexander Park by the Cannon River when I shot this image Wednesday evening.
River waters rise close to Faribault Foods. Last fall floodwaters reached as far as the overhead doors.
The Straight River encroaches on Faribault's Water Reclamation Plant, which now appears "safe" from floodwaters.
A sandbagged utility area along the Straight River by the viaduct and Teepee Tonka Park on Faribault's east side.
CLICK HERE to view images from last September’s flash flood in Faribault, comparing the situation then to today. River levels are much lower than six months ago.
© Copyright 2011 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
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