By: Sheila Crowley
Staff writer
What should have been a time for family, friends and celebrating the fourth of July, turned into a time to come together and help save properties from rising waters.
For the past week Murray County has been the headlines leading many televisions stations as well as newspapers and radio as a result of heavy rains received on Tuesday, July 3rd.
When Governor Mark Dayton visited this area this past Friday morning he termed the flooding as a ‘castastrophe’. Unfortunately until the water recedes, the total amount of the damages won’t be known.
Murray County declared a state of emergency on June 21st following the four to eight inches of rain received earlier that week. The rains impacted various public infrastructures throughout the county.
Another round of torrential rains were received July 2nd into July 3rd…this time dumping nearly 8 to 10 inches on the already saturated area. Reports of rainfall over the past two weeks reached between 15 to 18 inches. The Murray County Sheriff’s office reported all their department were out along with the Murray County Highway department accessing roads. Numerous locations were closed due to water over the road and recommended no travel in Murray County.
Highway 59 from Slayton to the Lyon County border was covered and shut down and Hwy. 14 from Walnut Grove to Tracy was under water as well.
The heavy rains triggered the need for sandbagging for homes and businesses located around the lakes area. According to Christy Riley, Murray County Community Relations Coordinator, the lakes region got hammered and were probably the heaviest hit with many homeowners reporting water in their basements. Residents were warned not to enter flooded basements due to possible electrocution. Murray County Sheriff’s Office personnel were sent to Lake Shetek and Lake Sarah to help evacuate if necessary.
To read the rest of this article – pick up a copy of this weeks Fulda Free Press or subscribe to our e-edition at http://eedition.fuldafreepress.net/sub/account_login.asp
