Recent Spate of Bad Weather Cause $15M in Damages in Iowa

Iowa’s top emergency management official says up to 150 homes in Iowa have major flood damage and his department continues to monitor river levels as Iowa’s ground is water saturated and more rain could cause additional problems.

Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Mark Schouten says early estimates indicate damage to roads, bridges and public buildings from recent flooding comes to about $11 million. Storms on June 3 caused an additional $4.5 million damage to public facilities.

Those estimates don’t include homes or crop damage, which Gov. Terry Branstad says will be significant in some areas of western Iowa.

Branstad and Schouten discussed Iowa flooding Monday at the governor’s weekly news conference.

Flooding is expected this week in Waterloo and Cedar Rapids as the Cedar River rises.