Locals are drawn under the viaduct Thursday evening during yet another flood in our community caused by excessive rainfall. Here the Straight River runs over its banks. A flood warning continues until 5 a.m. Friday.
THE SCENES ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR.
The dam no longer visible.
Sandbags stacked outside the Faribault Woolen Mill.
Second Avenue between the Faribault Woolen Mill and Faribault Foods.
Police tape.
Several blocks of Second Avenue from Faribault Foods (left), past the Woolen Mill (right) to Caseys General Store were closed. The street runs past the Cannon River.
Roads barricaded.
The bridge entry to Teepee Tonka Park, now flooded by the Straight River.
And locals gathered by the dozens to document the scenes, to see how the mighty Cannon and Straight Rivers have once again overflowed their banks.
A Twin Cities TV crew comes, too, pulled by the current of a news story.
Locals head across the Faribault Woolen Mill parking lot toward the rising Cannon River.
While the gawkers gawk, the sun draws a slim line of gold between grey clouds and glassy water.
Police and firefighters watch the river watchers.
Blocks away the Straight River churns muddy brown, raging under the bridge near the wastewater treatment plant.
Truckers haul dirt to construct a make-shift temporary berm protecting this city infrastructure.
As in past floods, the city has had to deal with sewer issues. This scene is by South Alexander Park.
Memories of the September 2010 and June 2014 floods linger.
A flooded street by Heritage Park near the Straight River close to downtown.
I’ve walked these roads, these sidewalks, these parking lots, this grass before, documenting the flooding.
In the midst of the flooding, beauty is reflected, here on the Cannon River near the Faribault Woolen Mill.
Still the scenes pull me here, into the quiet of an autumn night for the third flood in seven years.
© Copyright 2016 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
A creek flowed directly behind our 1 acre property when I was a kid. These photos bring back memories of our fascination with the high water marks when the stream was in full spate. A dangerous fascination indeed!
There’s something about water, wind and fire that fascinates. As long as we appreciate the power of each.
One drawback of living in/around a river town. Water is a powerful thing; it amazes me how quickly flooding can devastate an area. Hopefully this bought will not cause too much damage.
My husband reported this morning (as he drove through Faribault on his way to work in Northfield) that the river is higher than last evening.
I have been chanting recede and sending prayers of dryness. My parents worry me enough with being full-time RVers and driving cross country and yet again dealing with flooding (lost their RV last time). Your last photo is beautiful. Be Safe and Take Care – Sending Prayers.
I understand your worry for them. I pray they don’t lost their RV this time and that they remain safe.
My parents need to add pantoon floats to the underneath of their RV. Then they could just float out of there.
Flooding has been all over the U.S. this year and probably in the last few years too. I still remember the weather we drove through on our way cross country in May 2015. We have made it through Tropical Storm Colin and Tropical Storm Hermine (she was a rain producer that caused flooding here) so far and have until November for Hurricane Season to be over.
Pontoon floats. Perfect.
It sounds like you’ve dealt with your share of floodwaters. I hope hurricane season leaves you unscathed.
I have learned in living all over the U.S. that every State has their own share of weather to deal with. Just be smart, safe and prepared.
True and great advice.
No fun. Stay safe and dry
Safe and dry at my house.
So sorry to hear of the flooding; hopefully past experience will help in saving property. Praying for end of the rain.
Waseca seems to be the worst with flooding. And, yes, past floods have helped Faribault prepare.
Wow, I pray that the water flows on to its destination peacefully with no appreciable damage to anyone either up or down stream!
That’s the thing– still waiting for water from other areas to reach Faribault. Flooding is not nearly as bad as in 2010.
We just arrived home and stopped downtown Northfield’s post office to get our mail. It’s across from the river. So much water…
The rivers are higher in Faribault today than yesterday. And the flooding has spread.
Thanks for sharing I have company this weekend who have relatives in the area. Your photos are wonderful and I particularly liked this line
A Twin Cities TV crew comes, too, pulled by the current of a news story.
The forces of nature are something that we need to pay attention to and considering the devastation we have had from storms as it forever alters the landscape..
Thank you. I liked that line, too.
I thought of you this weekend as we drove through Shoreview on our way to my eldest daughter’s house.
Be Safe!
Being long in tooth, I have seen and have been somewhat trapped by what are called “100 Year” floods that have occurred across this country, 2 in New Mexico, 1 in California. I have heard of a number of them that have affected family members, the Red River at Fargo / Moorhead being but one. I have read of a flood that affected Red Wing (MiN) turning that town (late 1800s) into an island. Be Safe and put your notes into your files. You may want to know a safe way out of your area in case of future disasters. May the Almighty keep you all safe.
The flooding is contained to certain areas of town and not one I live in. Local officials seem to have this flood reaction down to a science now. I talked to a cop on Friday evening who was watching the river, reporting measurements every three hours.