Rock Valley, IA , USA - June 22, 2024

Chaos ensued early morning on June 22 in Rock Valley, Iowa, as a levee breach along the Rock River triggered sudden and severe flash flooding, prompting urgent evacuation orders for residents in the path of rising waters.

The National Weather Service escalated the situation to a Flash Flood Emergency, prompting city officials to activate tornado sirens in a desperate bid to alert residents to the imminent danger.

"We are setting off sirens in (Rock Valley)," announced the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office on social media. "This means to evacuate your house if able."

Throughout the morning, Rock Valley officials posted updated evacuation maps on social media, detailing the expanding areas under mandatory evacuation orders. By dawn, reports emerged of at least two bridges and multiple roads washed out by the relentless floodwaters.

Drone footage provided by the Sioux County Sheriff's Office depicted a harrowing scene of inundated homes and businesses engulfed by rising floodwaters, illustrating the scale of the disaster unfolding in the community.

"The City of Rock Valley urges residents to avoid floodwaters," warned city officials on Facebook. "Entering floodwaters poses serious risks, and our emergency responders cannot safely conduct rescue operations if evacuations are not followed."

As conditions worsened, emergency responders mobilized dive teams, swift boats, and task force units to navigate treacherous waters and assist with evacuations. However, escalating water currents rendered traditional evacuation vehicles ineffective, forcing responders to rely solely on specialised boats.

Meanwhile, neighbouring towns such as Ashton, Terril, and Hawarden faced their own flood emergencies, with mandatory evacuations and infrastructure damage exacerbating the regional crisis. Power outages and shutdowns of vital facilities, including water and sewer treatment plants, added to the challenges facing affected communities.

In response to the escalating disaster, Iowa Governor Kim Richards issued an emergency disaster proclamation for Sioux County, mobilising state resources to aid Rock Valley and other flood-stricken areas.

The situation remains fluid as emergency crews continue rescue efforts and assess the full extent of the damage caused by the unprecedented flooding event in Iowa.