The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is increasing the flow of water from a South Dakota dam into the Missouri River. Around 300 residents of Craig, Missouri have been ordered to evacuate by this afternoon as 160-thousand cubic feet of water per second begins rushing toward the town today. Concerns about regional levees being overtopped have forced around 600 people in Freemont County, Iowa to evacuate as well.
The Missouri River has already reached historic highs in northwest Missouri. Meanwhile, it's a waiting game in North Dakota as a wall of water released from Canadian reservoirs continues rushing through the Souris River Valley. Nearly twelve thousand Minot, North Dakota residents have evacuated.
The last time Minot, population 40,000, was hit by a major flood was in 1969. On Wednesday, the Souris, also known as the Mouse River, was slightly higher than it was then, and it is expected to rise another 8 feet before it crests next week.
This is the third straight year North Dakota has faced floods. Its ground and aquifers were already saturated before the torrential downpours of recent months. This year the swollen Missouri River threatens the capital of Bismarck, as well as South Dakota's capital, Pierre, and Omaha farther downstream.
Here's a look at some of the latest photos from the disaster:
A crew of city employees ferry a large gas tank across Missouri River flood waters to the city's waste water treatment plant, in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, June 22, 2011. Once there, the fuel will power pumps that remove water from the plant.REUTERSEleven-year-old Brody Bashus skips stones into Missouri River flood waters in Plattsmouth, Nebraska June 22, 2011. Drivers trying to cross from southeast Nebraska into Missouri and Iowa on Monday found bridges closed for more than 100 miles, due to flooding and heavier water flows on the Missouri River. All Missouri River bridges for a distance of about 112 miles between Plattsmouth, Nebraska, just south of Omaha, to St. Joseph, Missouri, are now closed, according to officials.REUTERSRamon Carreno of Omaha, Nebraska takes pictures of the flooding Missouri River from Council Bluffs, Iowa, June 21, 2011.REUTERSLarry Gascoigne (L) moves furniture with his grandson Corey and son Joe Gascoigne out of Joe's Council Bluffs, Iowa home, June 22, 2011. The house, which sits near the flooded Missouri river, recently started taking in ground water.REUTERSJarrett and Jessica Hunter watch the overflowing Missouri River that flooded Corning, Missouri. June 21, 2011. Some 300 residents of a northwest Missouri town were ordered to evacuate, because of two breaches in Missouri River levees and expectations that water will top secondary barriers.REUTERSWorkers with CenturyLink telephone company work on building a three-foot wall of sandbags surrounding a switching station during the mandatory evacuation of Craig, Missouri. June 21, 2011. Some 300 residents of a northwest Missouri town were ordered to evacuate, because of two breaches in Missouri River levees and expectations that water will top secondary barriers, officials said on Tuesday.REUTERS
