There was a sudden failure of the Rapidan Dam in Mankato, Minnesota.

Heavy rainfall has caused severe flooding across the Midwest, resulting in at least one fatality and prompting hundreds of rescues and evacuations. States like Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Minnesota have been particularly hard hit by the deluge.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem confirmed one death in her state due to the weather, with details on additional casualties still awaited. In southern Minnesota, concerns escalated as heavy rains threatened the integrity of a dam, prompting a flash flood warning in areas near the Rapidan Dam in Blue Earth County, approximately 55 miles southwest of the Twin Cities.

Officials worked urgently to alert residents potentially in harm’s way, although they expressed confidence that catastrophic consequences were not imminent. Captain Paul Barta of the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office assured the public, stating, “We want to make sure everybody has an understanding that we don’t believe there is an imminent threat to everyone who is in the pathway of the river.”

Emergency measures were taken, including evacuations downstream from the dam. Authorities warned that if the dam failed, water levels could rise by approximately 2 feet, posing significant risks to surrounding areas.

As debris accumulated and altered river flow paths, concerns about the dam’s stability intensified. Updates from Blue Earth County officials underscored the precarious situation, noting the dam was in “imminent failure condition” with uncertain outcomes. Despite these alerts, as of the latest update, there was no mandatory evacuation order for residents of Blue Earth County.

The region has experienced between 8 to 9 inches of rainfall since Father’s Day weekend, with the Minnesota River nearing its highest crest since the devastating flood of June 1993 in nearby Mankato. Weather forecasts suggest potential relief may not be immediate, as additional thunderstorms are predicted to affect the area later in the week.

Overall, authorities remain vigilant, monitoring the situation closely as communities brace for ongoing weather challenges and potential further impact from the relentless rain.