Eight inches of rain during the overnight hours of July 22-23 in the New Vienna area resulted in flooding throughout Dyersville. The river crested at the First Avenue bridge at 14 feet at around 9 a.m. on Friday, according to the Dyersville Emergency Management director Tim Pins. After three more inches of rain fell on the New Vienna area overnight on July 23-24, a second crest of 12.5 feet accorded Saturday morning.
Pins said the flooding exceeded the water levels the community experienced during multiple high-water events in 2008, and was comparable to the flooding the community received in 1999.
"It was historic," Pins said. "There was no question about it."
One family had to be rescued from floodwaters. Pins said firefighters used a flat-bottom boat to help the Pat and Kathy Valant family escape from their flooded home Friday morning.
The flooding differentiated from previous events, where the high water level
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"One of the big reasons it appears the flood sustained for quite awhile was, once the Maquoketa crested at 14 feet, we still noticed Bear Creek rising for about two hours after that," Pins said. "The whole west side was filling up."
As with earlier flooding events, the neighborhood around the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier sustained heavy flooding, as did the city's Westside and Candy Cane parks. Meanwhile, flooding forced the closure of several streets, including portions of First Avenue, Third Street and Beltline Road. The West Linden area of the community was an "island," according to Police Chief Martin Botts.
Local manufacturers, Scale Models and Modernfold, sent employees home as a result of flooding near their businesses Friday morning. However, speculation that the basilica had floodwaters in its basement proved to be false, as the church received just minor water seepage.
The city of Dyersville's wastewater treatment plant was able to maintain operations, but the facility's pumps burned out as a result of prolonged use, according to Public Works supervisor Dave Vorwald. He estimated it would cost $5,000 to replace the pumps.
Additionally, the shoulder along Beltline Road washed out, while the asphalt on Second Street NE was loosened.
"Other than that, it was pretty much routine clean up," Vorwald said.
The city's park system was especially hit hard by flooding. With debris scattered throughout, Westside and Candy Cane parks are closed until further notice. Parks and Recreation director Pete Bonifas said flooding has resulted in the city to push back the start of its youth soccer league until the end of August.
Over the course of Friday and Saturday, firefighters and local volunteers bagged more than 6,100 sandbags.
"We had the help from the Boy Scouts, Sons of the American Legion, 4-H and four private businesses sent paid staff down to sandbag," Pins noted. "We were very, very appreciative of that. We are estimating we had 200 volunteers."
Additionally, firefighters from five other departments provided assistance during the flooding - Worthington, New Vienna, Farley, Earlville and Guttenberg.
Pins especially offered praise to the cooperation Dyersville rescue personnel receive from their colleagues in New Vienna, who provide updates on floodwaters upstream.