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Flooding brings more damage to Dodge County
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Share on DiggAuthorities in Dodge County in southeastern Minnesota will today begin to assess the damage caused by flooding overnight after nearly 3 inches of rain fell, washing out some county roads, causing crop damage and forcing some residents out of their homes.
A flood warning was in effect for northern Dodge County until 9:30 a.m. today, the National Weather Service said.
No injuries have been reported, but fire department crews had to rescue several motorists who were stranded on water-covered county roads after Middle Fork Zumbro River and Milliken Creek overflowed their banks. Paved roads are dry and open this morning, but several low-lying roads and gravel roads remain treacherous and some are still closed, a dispatcher with the Dodge County Sheriff's Department said.
As a result of flooded roads, classes in the Triton School District, serving Claremont, Dodge Center and West Concord, will start two hours today, the district said.
Rain started falling Sunday afternoon and led to the flash flooding west and northwest of West Concord, Minn. Residents in homes in nearby Ellington Township were evacuated Sunday evening. At 1 a.m. today, water 2 to 3 feet deep was running through farm fields and the near 150th Avenue and 540th Street. Water was flowing across County Road 7 near a bridge at 540th Street at 4:15 a.m., the Weather Service said.
Other roads in Dodge County were impassable due to high water and law enforcement has set up barricades and closed some roads, including County Roads 24, 7, 5 and 1 as well as 150th and 160th avenues near West Concord, the Weather Service said.
The heavy rain has turned farm field into impromptu lakes, inflicting substantial damage corn and beans yet to be harvested. It was too early to tell how many acres are under standing water, the dispatcher said.
As much as 3 to 5 inches of rain fell in Steele County where a flood warning had been in effect earlier today. The warning has been cancelled as water has begun receding in Owatonna, where some flooding of homes due to storm sewer backups was reported late Sunday night, according to a report on WCCO-TV.
Today will be mainly dry and sunny in the Twin Cities with a high of 70 degrees. Tuesday will bring another chance for rain with a high of 69 degrees. The rest of the week calls for a chance for rain on Thursday night and Friday, otherwise sunny with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s.
Tim Harlow • harlow@startribune.com
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