Near record rainfalls batter North Iowans

Franklin County remains under State of Emergency after five days of record rains
     North Iowans were battered with five straight days of rain this past week, nearly matching records set in 2008, when the state saw a 500-year flood.
     Beginning in the evening hours of Wednesday, Sept. 21, many North Iowa counties saw close to 10 inches of rain fall, with 7.5 inches falling in Greene by 11 p.m. on Wednesday night. Flooding had the Cedar River cresting at 23 feet. The 2008 level was approximately 31 feet. Many portions of the region were evacuated, with water use permitted by a lot of residents this past Monday.
     At approximately 10 a.m. on Friday, Franklin County entered in to a state of emergency, seeing one major road close, and the total number of gravel roads damaged resting at 50. Emergency Management Coordinator Thomas Craighton said that the State of Emergency will continue until at least the end of the week, while total road damages are accounted for. 
     According to the National Weather Service, Des Moines, a total of 4.36 inches of rain fell in Hampton, though several sites in Franklin County saw almost five inches of rain, since Wednesday afternoon. According to the National Weather Service, the total September rainfall in Hampton is 8.96 inches. September’s historical average is only 2.39 inches. 
     Read the full article in the September 28 edition of the Hampton Chronicle.