The governor of Iowa mobilized helicopters to assist residents of a small town in evacuating flooded homes on Saturday, following weeks of relentless rain. While this rescue operation unfolded, much of the United States grappled with another severe heatwave, exacerbating the challenges faced by communities across the nation.
In Rock Valley, Iowa, with a population of 4,200, the situation reached a critical point at 2 a.m. when sirens blared, urging hundreds of residents to evacuate due to rapidly rising waters from the Rock River. Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo described the dire circumstances: “We’ve got National Guard helicopters coming in where people are on their roofs — literally on their roofs or the second floor because their first floor is completely flooded.” The city found itself without running water as the deluge had rendered wells unusable.
Governor Kim Reynolds swiftly declared a disaster for Sioux County, encompassing Rock Valley. Aerial footage captured by local authorities starkly illustrated the extent of the inundation, showing submerged streets where only rooftops and tree tops protruded above water.
Across the United States, a punishing heatwave persisted, impacting millions. The National Weather Service reported approximately 15 million people under a heat warning, the highest alert level, with an additional 90 million under a heat advisory. This ongoing heatwave added to the toll of a year marked by numerous heatwaves, the most since 1936, according to experts. An analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data by the Associated Press revealed over 2,300 heat-related deaths in the U.S., the highest in 45 years.
Cities such as Washington, D.C., Richmond, Virginia, Philadelphia, Newark, New Jersey, Columbus, Ohio, and Detroit braced for temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). In New York state, heat-related hospital visits surged by 500% compared to the June average, as reported by the Department of Health.
In addition to Iowa’s flooding, South Dakota battled its own water woes. Heavy rains forced the closure of several highways, including a critical stretch of Interstate 29 south of Sioux Falls, leaving residents with no alternative routes. Sioux Falls itself, the state’s largest city, endured over 7 inches (17.7 centimeters) of rain within three days.
Meanwhile, New Mexico faced flash flood warnings prompting officials to order mandatory evacuations. Shelters were set up to accommodate displaced residents, particularly in areas like Las Vegas and communities near Albuquerque, where the National Weather Service declared a flash flood emergency on Friday night.
Meteorologist Marc Chenard from the National Weather Service offered some respite, noting that while the eastern U.S. might see a brief cool down early in the week, above-normal temperatures were expected to persist across much of the country into the following week.
In southeastern Michigan, the aftermath of storms left 8,300 customers without power on Saturday morning, a significant improvement from earlier in the week when 75,000 homes and businesses were affected by outages.
As communities across the United States grappled with the dual challenges of flooding and heat, emergency responders and residents alike braced themselves for further impacts as weather patterns continued to unfold unpredictably.
