RICE COUNTY, Minn. — Rivers rose rapidly in Rice County this weekend, flooding neighborhoods in Morristown, Faribault, Warsaw and other small communities.
In Warsaw, the owner of Channel Inn posted a call for help on Facebook, and within minutes community members showed up to help fill sandbags.
“We’re doing well. It’s the community we have to support here,” Michelle Voegele said.
On Sunday alone they filled more than 3,000 sandbags.
“In the 35 years I’ve been here, I’ve never seen the water this high,” Voegele said.
Across the bridge, Doc’s Dock Campground is underwater just before the busy 4th of July weekend.
“This is devastating to us,” owner Lori Schultz said.
The last few visitors went by canoe to their campers to grab what they could.
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“I have the best group of campers ever. And they’re more supportive than I could hardly be to them today. Because I’m just devastated about what happened to them,” Schultz said.
Flooding has resulted in Faribault road closures Around town. Many neighbors tried to keep their homes as dry as possible all weekend.
“We spent all day handing out water, throwing out furniture and pulling out carpet, but when you drive around and see what’s around us, I feel very happy,” Connie Drentlaw said.
She said in all her years living in Faribault, she has never seen flooding like this.
“Waterville, Morristown, Warsaw, it’s pretty widespread, it’s sad. But we’ll get through it,” she said.
Rice County officials want people to stay out of floodwaters and adhere to road closures. Not only does the water move very quickly, but it can also contain sewage, toxic chemicals, and other sharp objects.
Beginning at 7:30 a.m. Monday, residents can drop off flood-contaminated materials at the county’s solid waste facility.
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