An Iowa town suffers devastating flooding — now it’s fighting back with its own great wall

HORNICK, IA (KTIV) – In 2019 the Iowa city of Hornick was awarded a $2.1 million grant from Iowa Flood Restoration to construct a protecting mound across the metropolis after it suffered devastating flooding.

Officers hope they’ve accomplished sufficient to chase away ‘the massive flood,’ if and when it comes. Hornick is constructing what quantities to their model of the nice wall across the metropolis.

It’s set again from the river, making the city ready for a flood that’s solely alleged to occur as soon as each 500 years. Hornick got here inside inches of that in 2019, they usually’ve been making ready for the ‘large one’ ever since.

Hornick Mayor Scott Mitchell knew after the flood in 2019 one thing needed to change.

“At that time being mayor is among the most troublesome selections to make… (I) declared a catastrophe scenario and resolve to evacuate the city. I imply, since you’re gonna you’re asking 250-some residents to go away their residence and never understanding what they’re going to return again to,” mentioned Mitchell.

The individuals of Hornick did return, 90% a minimum of. And now engineers are laborious at work on the town’s latest defensive measure.

The berm might be three to 4 ft taller than the tallest floodwaters in 2019. For floodwaters to eclipse it, officers imagine the river would want to rise by greater than 40 ft.

“I’m excited as a result of each time it rains and my cellphone beeps from the Nationwide Climate Service that (the) creek is gonna come as much as us as a result of they name me at a sure elevation. Now with the berm, I don’t have that — it received’t be so scary,” mentioned Mitchell.

The mayor confirmed KTIV this map of the city of Hornick. The black line is the brand new berm, it varieties a protecting triangle across the metropolis.

The crimson line is a small creek, generally known as “lateral O.” It didn’t flood in 2019, however it got here shut. Town was ready to make use of the identical grant it used to construct the berm to clear the creek.

As soon as the berm is completed, hopefully earlier than the tip of the 12 months, residents say they’ll really feel a lot safer.

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