Tag: Flooding

Georgia, South Carolina and Florida work to clear Debby aftermath

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Georgia, South Carolina and Florida work to clear Debby aftermath – CBS News

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Tropical Storm Debby is moving north after dropping huge amounts of rain on parts of the Southeast. President Biden has authorized emergency declarations from the governors of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. CBS News correspondent Cristian Benavides has the latest from Savannah, Georgia.

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August 6, 2024
Crews work to clean up after Debby in St. Petersburg
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Residents and crews worked to clean up after Debby in St. Petersburg Monday.
What You Need To Know

Nearly 400 St. Petersburg team members spent Monday assessing damage from Debby

They found more than 50 downed trees and flooding

Mayor Ken Welch said storms like Tropical Storm Debby show the need for planning ahead
At the edge of the flooded Shore Acres neighborhood, Michael Larkin said he was feeling thankful.

“We got lucky,” said Larkin. “We didn’t have any flooding here – some water in the streets. But unfortunately, I’m looking down at my neighbors. I don’t think they were so lucky.”

Larkin said he spent the morning cleaning up storm debris in his yard on 14th Lane Northeast. St. Petersburg officials spent the afternoon surveying other parts of the city for damage.

“Right now, we’ve got about 65 tree tickets that we’re working,” Community Enrichment Administrator Mike Jefferis said at a site on Union St. where crews worked to remove a large limb from a stop sign. “We’re coming across trees that are either too saturated from all the rain we’ve had, they’re completely uprooted, or we’re coming upon situations like this, where we have stop signs that have been damaged.”

According to the city, nearly 400 team members spent Monday assessing damage from Debby. They found more than 50 downed trees and flooding.

“It could have been much worse,” said Mayor Ken Welch.

Welch thanked crews for their clean-up efforts Monday afternoon. St. Petersburg has been looking at ways to mitigate worsening flooding – holding public meetings on resiliency efforts and installing new backflow preventers in flood-prone Shore Acres. Welch said storms like this one show the need for planning ahead.

“This was, again, a tropical storm that was well to our west, and given how far away it was, you’ve seen the impacts, and so we have to continue to invest in our infrastructure for that day when we do have a storm that’s closer to us,” Welch said.

“I do feel like it happens every six months,” said Larkin. “So, I think it’s the new normal, unfortunately.”

The city said damage assessments will continue Tuesday.
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Sarah Blazonis

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August 5, 2024
Some urged to relocate during Lake Manatee strategic release
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MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — After record-breaking rainfall, officials in Manatee County said Monday a strategic release of water from Lake Manatee was needed.
What You Need To Know

Water is being released downstream from the Manatee Dam in a strategic move

Manatee County Emergency Management said this began Monday afternoon

County officials said high-water vehicles have been placed around the county to assist with potential rescues
Manatee County Chief of Emergency Management, Matt Myers, said the Manatee Dam has done what it’s supposed to do, but the release is needed so there won’t be any future problems.

“It is still releasing, controlled through the channels in the dam,” he said. “So that is to keep it pressurized from what’s coming into the dam and what’s coming out. We want to keep that level so that we don’t have any problems.”

As part of the water release, some residents were sent notices encouraging them to relocate, including Mike Jacobs.

After all the rain Hurricane Debby brought, he said he was not surprised.

“The river is just beyond these mangroves but you can see here the water has encroached in this low-lying area which rarely do you ever see water here,” said Jacobs. “It’s usually bone dry.”

Driving along the golf course near his home, Jacobs said only once in his 20 years living in the area had he seen the water reach such heights.

When the evacuation notice arrived Monday, he wanted to make sure his family would be safe at home.

“We were a little bit nervous,” he said. “My wife and I talked about it and tried to decide whether we were going to go or whether we were going to stay.”

Manatee County Emergency Management said high-water vehicles have been placed around the county to assist with potential rescues.
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Matt Lackritz

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August 5, 2024
Largo residents want action taken to prevent flooding
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LARGO, Fla. — People who live along Dahlia Place say they’ve been dealing with flooding for years, and they want the city to take action.

“Twenty minutes of rain, 12 hours to drain,” Chris Girard said while displaying a photo of flooding from last week.
What You Need To Know

Residents on Dahlia Place say a debris-filled drainage ditch has caused flooding problems in their neighborhood for years

The city of Largo says public works crews have spent two weeks doing maintenance work on the ditch, but the long-term solution is the Starkey Road Basin Best Management Practices Implementation

A Largo spokesperson says that the project was tied to the county-managed Starkey Road widening project, which is funded for the next fiscal year

A Pinellas County spokesperson said the county continues to collaborate with the city, and there are no county needs identified right now since the drainage improvement area is mostly within the city boundary
Girard said whenever the area sees heavy rainfall, water creeps into the neighborhood and towards homes. He said his garage was flooded just last week.

“We flooded on Tuesday, flooded on Thursday, flooded on Friday,” he said of the neighborhood.

Girard said a drainage ditch that runs behind his home is to blame.

“This is ditch number ten, City of Largo,” he said. “Has to be maintained for it to work properly.

The city told Spectrum News public works crews have spent two weeks doing just that.

Residents on Dahlia Place say a debris-filled drainage ditch has caused flooding problems in their neighborhood for years. (Spectrum News/Sarah Blazonis)

Communications and Engagement Director Katie Oyer said maintenance was performed along the ditch from 4th Avenue SE to Willow Avenue, and then west to Fulton Avenue. Oyer said crews are also finishing digging out the toe of the ditch to the south of Girard’s home.

But Girard said city crews didn’t get to some areas of the ditch.

The city said the long-term solution is the Starkey Road Basin Best Management Practices Implementation, a separate project funded for the next fiscal year that’s tied to the Starkey Road widening project.

It involves upgrading a culvert on Starkey, but Oyer said any projects upstream could flood a nearby mobile home park if the culvert isn’t replaced first.

In response to a question about the project’s status, Pinellas County Public Information Coordinator Sydney Criteser said via e-mail, “The county and city jointly funded a watershed plan for the area, and the county continues to collaborate with the city as needed.”

She noted the city was addressing the flood issues by cleaning overgrown ditches and went on to say, “At this time, there are no identified county needs, as the drainage improvement area is primarily within the city boundary.”

Girard said residents need a lasting solution sooner rather than later, particularly with peak hurricane season still to come.

“We got three inches of rain on Tuesday – wasn’t a tropical storm or a hurricane. So, what are we going to do when the real weather comes?” he asked.
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Sarah Blazonis

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July 30, 2024
5,000 people rescued from flooding in North Korea

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More than 5,000 people isolated by flooding in northwest North Korea were rescued in airlifts and other evacuation work supervised by leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported Monday.Heavy rainfall on Saturday had caused a river on the North Korean-Chinese border to exceed a dangerous level and created “a grave crisis,” the official Korean Central News Agency said.Video above: North Korean trash balloons descend on South Korea causing a debris fireAbout 10 military helicopters and navy and government boats were mobilized for the evacuation efforts in Sinuiju city and Uiju town where flooding had isolated residents.KCNA did not mention any deaths or how much damage the flooding caused. It said each of the about 10 helicopters made several fights to move the residents despite bad weather, ultimately rescuing 4,200 of the affected people by airlift.It said Kim guided the evacuation works Sunday, ordered food and other necessities to be provided to affected people, and set tasks for recovery and relief works.KCNA cited Kim as calling the rescue works “miraculous” as more than 5,000 people were saved through the efforts. Summer floods in North Korea often cause serious damage to farmlands due to poor drainage, deforestation and dilapidated infrastructure. Typhoons and torrential rains in 2020 were among the difficulties Kim previously said had created “multiple crises” at home, along with draconian pandemic-related restrictions and U.N. sanctions over his nuclear weapons program.During his weekend visit to the flooded region, Kim also scolded officials for lowering their guard though he had ordered efforts to prevent flood damage more than once, KCNA said.“They, seized with defeatism at combat with nature, do not confidently turn out in the disaster prevention work, only expecting chance from the sky,” Kim said, according to KCNA.Kim stressed that the irresponsible attitude of those tasked with ensuring people’s safety should not be overlooked. He said the North’s emergency response agency and the Ministry of Public Security didn’t even know the exact populations of the flood-hit areas so the number of people rescued was larger than expected.Kim’s criticism could be seen as an effort to shift blame while establishing his own image as a leader caring about his people while North Korea struggles with economic difficulties and international isolation, observers say.

, Seoul —

More than 5,000 people isolated by flooding in northwest North Korea were rescued in airlifts and other evacuation work supervised by leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported Monday.

Heavy rainfall on Saturday had caused a river on the North Korean-Chinese border to exceed a dangerous level and created “a grave crisis,” the official Korean Central News Agency said.

Video above: North Korean trash balloons descend on South Korea causing a debris fire

About 10 military helicopters and navy and government boats were mobilized for the evacuation efforts in Sinuiju city and Uiju town where flooding had isolated residents.

KCNA did not mention any deaths or how much damage the flooding caused. It said each of the about 10 helicopters made several fights to move the residents despite bad weather, ultimately rescuing 4,200 of the affected people by airlift.

It said Kim guided the evacuation works Sunday, ordered food and other necessities to be provided to affected people, and set tasks for recovery and relief works.

KCNA cited Kim as calling the rescue works “miraculous” as more than 5,000 people were saved through the efforts.

Summer floods in North Korea often cause serious damage to farmlands due to poor drainage, deforestation and dilapidated infrastructure. Typhoons and torrential rains in 2020 were among the difficulties Kim previously said had created “multiple crises” at home, along with draconian pandemic-related restrictions and U.N. sanctions over his nuclear weapons program.

During his weekend visit to the flooded region, Kim also scolded officials for lowering their guard though he had ordered efforts to prevent flood damage more than once, KCNA said.

“They, seized with defeatism at combat with nature, do not confidently turn out in the disaster prevention work, only expecting chance from the sky,” Kim said, according to KCNA.

Kim stressed that the irresponsible attitude of those tasked with ensuring people’s safety should not be overlooked. He said the North’s emergency response agency and the Ministry of Public Security didn’t even know the exact populations of the flood-hit areas so the number of people rescued was larger than expected.

Kim’s criticism could be seen as an effort to shift blame while establishing his own image as a leader caring about his people while North Korea struggles with economic difficulties and international isolation, observers say.

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July 28, 2024
Clearwater plans $100 million project to mitigate North Beach flooding
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CLEARWATER, Fla. — The city of Clearwater will spend up to $100 million to mitigate flooding in the North Beach neighborhood where about a dozen homes were inundated with stormwater twice last year, according to Public Works Director Marcus Williamson.

“We’re seeing more intense storms,” he said. “We’re seeing higher tides.”
What You Need To Know

The North Beach master plan is expected to be complete in five to seven years

According to Clearwater officials, the flood mitigation plan will cost between $70-$100 million

As part of the plan, five permanent pumps will be installed in the neighborhood

The project will also include a new Clearwater Public Works website to increase communication with residents
Public Works has added eight temporary pumps to the neighborhood since those back-to-back flood events, when Hurricane Idalia brushed by the area in August and a “no-name” storm hit in December.

Previously, North Beach had one permanent stormwater pump, but Williamson said the master plan calls for five more permanent pumps to be added over the next few years.

“We’ll keep leveraging the temporary pumps,” he said. “The goal is help us through these storms until we can build out the full network.”

Less than two years ago, Williamson said the city began installing new Tideflex check valves on all nine stormwater laterals in the neighborhood. Currently, four more valves still need to be installed. It’s all part of the North Beach master plan, which was developed in 2022.

“That master plan identified a bunch of pipe size increases that needed to happen,” said Williamson. “A well as putting those permanent pumps in.”

Connecting and upsizing the old stormwater pipes beneath the streets will have to be done in phases. The construction work for the master plan, which is expected to cost between $70-$100 million, has been out to bid and will take five to seven years to complete, according to Williamson.

“We have to very strategically work the system,” he said. “That’s why we’re saying it’s going take a number of years.”

In the meantime, residents can help by making sure contractors keep debris away from the storm drains. Williamson said drains clogged with debris and a lack of maintenance contributed to the neighborhood draining slowly during the storms.

“We’ve got concrete down in there, we’ve got all sorts of pool debris, as well as landscaping,” he said. “The Tideflex valve … the biggest way that they fail are usually limbs, twigs, branches.”

Public works will also be increasing communication with residents to keep them updated about the project, Williamson said.

“We’re going to establish a web page so we can help steer residents to the latest information that will be out there,” he said. “Provide a lot of these updates because we recognize everyone’s thirsty for what are you doing.”

Williamson, who has only been on the job for a year, said the ultimate solution to the flooding problem will be to get low-lying residents to raise their homes.

“We really need those homeowners to start elevating their homes so we can raise the roads and get more of that elevation that we need,” he said. “I think it’s the new norm that we’re going to start to see in all of these low-lying communities.”

Regardless, Williamson said North Beach residents will be better off this season with the improvements already underway.

“The system is definitely flowing much better,” he said. “It will help with the recovery, with all of these pumps out here.”

Williamson said U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna secured a $1.75 million grant to help pay for the project.
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Josh Rojas

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July 16, 2024
Pinellas County seeks resident input on flooding issues via survey
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PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Pinellas County is asking resident who have experienced flooding to complete a survey that could lead to millions in grant money to protect community assets.

“We need the public’s input in order to make this assessment successful,” said Lauren Wolf, Pinellas County Sustainability & Resiliency coordinator. “The vulnerability assessment will help us determine what kind of solutions we need.”
What You Need To Know

The flood impact survey could lead to millions in DEP grant money

Pinellas County wants to know which community assets to protect from flooding

The grant money will help the county build permanent solutions to mitigate the growing flood threat

The survey must be completed by July 31
The county will use the information to map locations at risk of flooding in the future during high tides, heavy rain and storm surge. Wolf said the impact survey asks residents about their personal experiences with flooding and what community assets they want protected.

“Community assets can include things like the airport, hospitals, schools, parks,” she said. “We want to know what the community would like to see protected from future flooding.”

Wolf said it takes less than 10 minutes to complete the survey which is funded by Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection. The same agency which will award the grant money based on the sea level rise and storm surge vulnerability assessment.

“They are going to be releasing funds that will help us put together projects to address flooding,” she said. “The future flooding that we’re expecting and the current flooding that we’re already experiencing.”

The deadline to complete the survey is July 31. Wolf said so far 250 residents have taken the survey, which is more than halfway to her goal.

“We’re so grateful that folks are really chiming in with their input,” she said. “We would love to get at least 400 folks. As many as possible.”

Wolf said the county wants to build more permanent solutions to flooding with any grant money received.

“Pinellas County is constantly working to address flooding today. There are crews that will go out and maintain our storm water systems,” she said. “We’ve got several capital projects that are going on throughout the county and this assessment is going to help us do more of that in the future.”
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Josh Rojas

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July 15, 2024
The small town of Cook is still cleaning up after all the flooding

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COOK, Minn. — Many communities across Minnesota are still dealing with the aftermath of devastating floods.

That includes popular summer spots up north. The small town of Cook near Lake Vermilion is one of those spots. Many of the city’s historic businesses are now trying to clean up and restore what flood waters washed away.

The Comet Theater first opened in 1939 and now it’s closed indefinitely after being hit by flooding.

“It makes me want to cry because of the history of the place,” said Shelly Lavinka, whose family owns and manages The Comet.

Torrential rain pummeled the region last month. Six to eight inches of rain fell in roughly 12 hours. Flooding river street for the first time in 50 years. Lavinka said crews drained nearly 300,000 gallons of water from the theater.

“The theater seats were the old ones. We tried to save them by steam cleaning, but we were just afraid because the water was so toxic,” said Lavinka.

Lavinka hopes The Comet can re-open next summer.

WCCO

The flood waters also hit the town’s library, bank, laundromat, pharmacy and more.

“We’re so small. The town is just over 500 people. This is sometimes the only place for some of these services,” said Crystal Whitney with the Cook County Public Library.

St. Louis County is home to 200,000 Minnesotans.

“Right now we’re looking at about 14 million dollars in infrastructure damage,” said Josh Brinkman St. Louis County emergency Services Director. “14 million dollars is huge, and these dollars are not just for county but for townships that have a budget of, the smaller ones, maybe $50K to $80K a year.”

Shelly Lavinka says she can already feel the love from the community.

“It just makes me know that if people want it back, then it gives me more positive energy to be able to do it bigger and better,” said Lavinka.

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Jonah Kaplan

Jonah Kaplan is WCCO and CBS News Minnesota’s investigative reporter and has built a strong reputation for his balanced and in-depth coverage of high-impact issues including the economy, immigration, education, public safety, and the military, among others.

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July 12, 2024
Highway 19 in Henderson reopens as flooding begins to recede around Minnesota

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WCCO digital update: Afternoon of July 9, 2024

WCCO digital update: Afternoon of July 9, 2024

02:31

HENDERSON, Minn. — After record-breaking rainfall the last couple of months, parts of Minnesota are starting to see relief from flooding.

Highway 9 east of Henderson to Highway 169 reopened Tuesday afternoon, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The highway closed when the Minnesota River began to seep onto the roadway in late June.

The Minnesota River is expected to continue falling after it crested early last week.

Crews will be working over the next few days to remove detour signs in the area. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is also in the process of removing the dike along northbound Highway 169 near Le Sueur. The road will be down to one lane until it is completely removed.

Flooding in Henderson, Minnesota in June 2024

WCCO

Highway 93 between Highway 169 and Le Sueur remains closed due to extensive damage from flooding, the department says.

The Minnesota River also flooded parts of Valleyfair in Shakopee, shutting down three rides and the parking lot. As of Tuesday night, the Renegade and Excalibur are back open while Thunder Canyon remains closed.

Flooding is still impacting other outdoor areas like Fort Snelling State Park, which remains closed as crews work to clean it up. Such is the case with many other area parks.

More scattered showers are expected in Minnesota for the coming days — but nothing too major — before a hot and mostly dry weekend.

Riley Moser

Riley Moser is a digital producer who covers breaking news and feature stories for CBS Minnesota. Riley started her career at CBS Minnesota in June 2022 and earned an honorable mention for sports writing from the Iowa College Media Association the same year.

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July 9, 2024
LIST: High water reported on Houston area roadways as Hurricane Beryl hits
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(Associated Press)
HOUSTON – Heavy rain from the outer bands of Hurricane Beryl is impacting the Houston area which is leading to a few roadways reporting high water.

KPRC 2 FLOOD TRACKER: Get alerted if flooding is occurring in your immediate area

KPRC 2 is urging residents to “turn around, don’t drown” if they happen to encounter some of these roadways, but we’re also giving drivers a heads-up before heading out the door.

Here is a list of high-water locations by Houston TranStar:

IH-69 Southwest Northbound At DunlavyRight Shoulder, Right Lane, Center Lane

Beltway 8-South Westbound Before Almeda/ FM 5213 Frontage Road Lanes

Westpark Tollway Eastbound At Beltway 8Exit Ramp Closed

KPRC 2 will continue to make updates to this story as more information becomes available.

Related weather articles:
Copyright 2022 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
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Christian Terry

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July 8, 2024
The residents in Waterville are still cleaning up after the devastating flooding

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Some homeowners are finally seeing the damage for the first time since the historic flooding

Some homeowners are finally seeing the damage for the first time since the historic flooding

02:08

WATERVILLE, Minn. — Flood victims hauled another 100+ loads of debris to Waterville’s community flood cleanup as homeowners got deeper inside their flood-ravaged homes.

“This is the first time we were able to haul anything physically and get rid of it,” Pete Shutrop told WCCO News on Saturday. “It’s a lot of work and it’s sad.”

Officials in Waterville say they are still in emergency mode, as the small town grapples with historic flooding.

“The worst thing was the smell,” Renee Shutrop added. “You don’t even realize the amount of mold and mildew that has grown in a matter of weeks. It’s up the sides of the wall, it’s on the furniture.”

According to data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, most homeowners in Waterville don’t have federal flood insurance and there’s just 33 active policies in town. Local officials hope the disaster declarations will help the 95% of people who are uninsured.

The American Red Cross on Saturday held another disaster resource expo at The Villages, a non-profit events space in Waterville. The Red Cross, working in tandem with other organizations, provided meals and cleaning supplies.

They’re also offering help with something intangible: emotional support.

“We’ve been passing out hugs anytime someone needs a hug or a shoulder to cry on,” Villages owner MaryAnn Eich said. “They need a hug and a smile and a little bit of encouragement right now.”

For the latest flooding updates and resources, click here.

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Jonah Kaplan

Jonah Kaplan is WCCO and CBS News Minnesota’s investigative reporter and has built a strong reputation for his balanced and in-depth coverage of high-impact issues including the economy, immigration, education, public safety, and the military, among others.

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July 6, 2024
Waterville community comes together in effort to recover from devastating floods

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Minnesota town recovers from extensive flood waters

Minnesota town recovers from extensive flood waters

02:04

WATERVILLE, Minn. — There are no off days when recovering from a natural disaster.

“Everyday we’re just chipping away, piece by piece, so that we can get this done,” Amanda Sheridan, whose home was damaged from last month’s flooding in Waterville, told WCCO News. “It’s everything. From the surface level, you have to clean the surface, and underneath it’s ripping up the carpets, ply up linoleum, and the floors are rotten.”

Sheridan was among dozens of residents who lined up on Friday at the Waterville Area Community Flood Cleanup, a collective effort to properly collect and dispose of the mounting piles of debris.

“You can bring anything. You can bring paint, couches, fridges,” Waterville Police Sgt. Amy Mathis explained. “We have so many people on so many different levels of where they are in the process.”

Officials in Waterville say they are still in emergency mode, as the small town grapples with historic flooding.

According to data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, most homeowners in Waterville don’t have federal flood insurance and there’s just 33 active policies in town. Local officials hope the disaster declarations will help the 95% of people who are uninsured.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Friday announced that federal disaster assistance will be implemented for Minnesota, providing a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures insured by the Federal Housing Administration as well as foreclosures of mortages to Native American borrowers guaranteed under the section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee program.

For the latest flooding updates and resources, click here.

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Jonah Kaplan

Jonah Kaplan is WCCO and CBS News Minnesota’s investigative reporter and has built a strong reputation for his balanced and in-depth coverage of high-impact issues including the economy, immigration, education, public safety, and the military, among others.

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Jonah Kaplan

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July 5, 2024
Shopoff to Build 250 Homes and Hotel in Huntington Beach

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Shopoff Realty Investments has moved forward with a plan to build 250 homes and a 215-room boutique hotel atop a former oil tank farm in Huntington Beach.

The Irvine-based developer led by Bill Shopoff has scheduled a hearing with the California Coastal Commission to consider approving the project on the former Magnolia Tank Farm west of Magnolia Street and north of the Huntington Beach Channel, the Orange County Register reported. The hearing is set for July 10.

The commission will weigh in on the 29-acre project rezoned by the city in 2021 just north of the Magnolia Marsh, some 2,000 feet from the beach. The property has been scraped clean of oil tanks and now appears in satellite images as a truck storage lot.

A year ago, the commission delayed deciding whether it would grant zoning changes to allow the development after raising concerns about flooding caused by sea-level rise.

But now commission staffers recommend the commissioners approve the project with changes related to affordable housing and hotel room rents. There was no more mention of the commission’s previous concerns about rising seas and potential floods from climate change.

If approved with modifications, 20 percent of the homes would be affordable, with half of them offered to qualified workers at the hotel.

The hotel would also need to have 25 percent of its rooms at affordable rates. The affordable rooms would likely rent for $150 a night if built today, according to a commission staff report.

Recently improved flood walls for the Huntington Beach Channel would help protect the development from future flooding, according to a study submitted with the project application.

But there are risks of floods in future decades should a major storm surge hit the beach, combined with several feet of sea level rise, according to the study submitted by an unidentified consulting firm.

Shopoff bought the Magnolia Tank Farm north of Pacific Coast Highway in 2016 for $26.5 million, or $913,793 an acre.

Plans now call for a 250 single-family and attached homes, a 215-room boutique lodge, 19,000 square feet of shops and restaurants and a 4-acre park, according to a Shopoff website.

Next to the project site is the former Ascon landfill, which until 1984 took in industrial, oil field and construction waste, now undergoing an environmental cleanup. The state Department of Toxic Substances Control has deemed the development safe from contamination from the former private dump, according to the Register.

A coalition of environmental groups, including the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club, says not so fast. They claim the only suitable use for the low-lying property would be its restoration as a wetland.

The groups — which include the Sierra Club, Orange County Coastkeepers and Surfrider Foundation — also say the housing and hotel development, if built atop a site raised to prevent flooding, would divert flood waters into adjacent residential neighborhoods.

Shopoff Realty Investments, founded by Bill Shopoff in 1992, had $3 billion in assets under management at the end of last year with $477 million in property sales and financing, up from $160 million in 2022, according to the Orange County Business Journal.

— Dana Bartholomew

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Shopoff Realty buys 55 acres in Desert Hot Springs for warehouse

Shopoff faces $39M foreclosures of River North, Fulton River District offices

Greenlaw, Shopoff called “preferred developers” in Anaheim probe

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July 3, 2024
Waterville begins to cleanup after historic floods

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WATERVILLE, Minn. — The sound of heavy machinery echoed through Waterville as the clean-up began. One by one, trucks pulled in to drop off flood-damaged items to the debris drop off site in Waterville.

“This is day one, we are going to keep going for a long time,” said Waterville Police Chief and Emergency Manager John Manning.

Around 5:30 Saturday, Manning said more than 100 loads were dropped off. He saw everything from sheetrock, flooring and furniture being tossed.

WCCO

“Think about what is in your home, the memories, the dreams they are sitting in these dumpsters right now,” Manning said.

That’s the tough reality for the small town battling historic floods. That left homes partially submerged, and streets waterlogged.

While some race to recover, other are bracing for more rain.

“Ever since the flooding here none of us have slept through the night because we are worried about something,” said resident Lonnie Roemhildt.

The backed-up Cannon River is flowing in Roemhildt’s backyard and basement.

WCCO

“We’ve got a garden in our backyard you can’t see it because it’s under four feet of water,” he said.

WCCO’s Ubah Ali connected with him Saturday evening as he began cleaning up debris left behind by flood waters.

Despite the water receding, Roemhildt said it’s tough to relax with more rain in the future.

“We are cleaning up now but Monday and Tuesday we might be back at square one like we haven’t done anything,” Roemhildt said.

Though the impact is not over, Roemhildt says he’s grateful for the community’s support.

“We are not going to give up,” said Manning. “We will keep pushing and get through this.”

President Biden approved a federal disaster declaration for 22 counties. FEMA is still reviewing damages in another 20.

The disaster aid will soon be on its way to communities like Waterville.

Cleanup in Waterville will continue June 30, July 1, July 3 and July 5. For more information, check here.

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Ubah Ali

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June 29, 2024
St. Croix River flooding impacting homes and businesses in Minnesota, Wisconsin

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ST. CROIX RIVER, Minn. — Flooding is impacting towns along the St. Croix River, with Washington County declaring a state of emergency on Friday.

As of Saturday afternoon, the St. Croix River is at just under 88 feet at Stillwater, near what’s considered moderate flood stage, with the water continuing to rise. A crest is anticipated for Monday at just over 88 feet.

A little flooding is the price Steve Blake pays for a front row view of the St. Croix River from his Bayport home.

Water is currently at a 1.5 feet inside his garage, Blake said.

“Ranges anywhere from a couple inches to there was one year we had about six feet in our garage. That point, I was kind of worried about losing my house,” said Blake.

He’s not the only one dealing with high water Saturday, so are several of his neighbors. Some have placed orange netting over garage openings to help keep out floating debris, like trees.

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There’s a four-foot flood wall protecting Blake’s home, but you’ll have to take his word for it, since it’s somewhere underwater.

“We’re meant to flood in and out, they’re built this way and so the water comes and goes. It’s just a matter of clean up. It’s a bit of a pain in the butt,” said Blake.

Across the border in Hudson, Wisc., flooding has taken over the Hudson waterfront.

“This is probably one of the worst I’ve ever seen,” said Jay Langer.

For 26 years, Langer has owned Ink Factory Tattoos. He’s been keeping tabs on the encroaching water, taking pictures of if it since mid-week.

“I’ve seen it worse once and that was in 1998,” said Langer.

To make matters worse, Langer said the flooding is hurting not only his business, but also neighboring businesses. It’s hurt his walk in traffic, he said.

“I just hope that none of these buildings go under,” said Langer.

For now, Langer said he’s just taking it day by day, keeping a watchful eye on the water.

“It is what it is. You live in the valley, you’ve got to deal with it,” said Langer.

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June 29, 2024
Video show Rapidan Dam being torn down, days after partially collapsing in southern Minnesota

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The Rapidan dam store is no more

The Rapidan dam store is no more

01:13

RAPIDAN TOWNSHIP, Minn. — The Rapidan Dam is no more. The iconic building partially collapsed into the Blue Earth River earlier this week.

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On Friday night officials with Blue Earth County announced they took possession of the dam store building from the Hruska family and removed the structure from the riverbank.

“My family has lost their home, they’ve lost their business, their livelihood and their land will be gone,” said Shannon Whittet of the Hruska family earlier this week. “This feels like a death in our family.”

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For years, the Rapidan Damn store, which WCCO featured in a Finding Minnesota segment in 2022, was a place for families to make happy memories. Thankfully the bar, chairs, tables, and memorabilia was saved from the building.

Debris blocking the damn caused the Blue Earth River to carve out a path bringing it right to the edge of the Rapidan Dam. The building hung precariously for a few days before the partial collapse.

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June 28, 2024
Man injured by falling tree in East Orange as fierce storms barrel through Tri-State

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NEW YORK (WABC) — Downpours and damaging winds from severe thunderstorms Wednesday night brought down trees across the Tri-State, leading to injuries, transit delays and power outages.

In East Orange, New Jersey, a witness says a man was found unconscious under tree debris in the backyard of a home.

The witness says he tried to assist the victim, who is a young father.

“I heard a crack first, then it hit the building and then it swung over, then the neighbor in the backyard. The next thing you know — it was silent for a second, and then we heard screams from the ladies, then we all ran out and they were saying, ‘he’s under the tree, he’s under the tree,’ so we all ran over there to try and help,” the witness said.

He and other neighbors ran to the trashed backyard to find frantic family members trying to shake the victim awake. Neighbors attempted CPR as they called 911.

Police rushed the victim to the hospital, but it’s not clear what his condition is.

Elsewhere in New Jersey, a large tree landed inches from a big house in Park Ridge. Fortunately, residents were in the home at the time and were not injured.

In Queens, three people were injured, including one critically, after a tree fell onto a car on Duane Road, according to FDNY officials. They say the three victims had to be extricated from the car. They were all taken to North Shore University Hospital.

RELATED | Watches, warnings and advisories from the National Weather Service

That wasn’t the only location where trees had fallen on cars. Citizen App video shows a downed tree on car in East New York, Brooklyn, and in Douglaston, Queens.

Video from Citizen.com shows a tree that fell on a car in Brooklyn during storms Wednesday night.

A massive downed tree took up a whole street in Forest Hills, Queens.

Citizen App video shows a massive tree down in Forest Hills amid severe thunderstorms Wednesday night.

Storm damage disrupts mass transit

Mass transit in New York City was also impacted by storm damage.

M train subway service was delayed in both directions while crews worked to remove a tree from the tracks at Forest Avenue.

Metro North Harlem line service was suspended between Valhalla and Hawthorne because of fallen trees on the tracks near Valhalla.

An LIRR train from Penn Station New York to Port Washington was canceled due to a downed tree on the tracks near Bayside, while several NJ Transit rail lines had service impacted by downed trees and other weather conditions.

Tri-State power outages

The severe weather also led to thousands of power outages in New York and New Jersey.

New Jersey reported over 93,000 customers without power as of 10:20 p.m., while New York had over 72,000 customers without power.

Connecticut reported over 30,000 customers without power Wednesday night.

What else to expect overnight

While the main threats of this storm were expected to be damaging wind and hail, a brief tornado couldn’t be ruled out.

Lee Goldberg has an update on the fierce storms barrelling through the Tri-State.

The rainfall totals are expected to be range from half an inch to an inch, but there could be localized heavier amounts that could lead to some areas of flash flooding.

The rain is expected to move out by sunrise Thursday. After the storms move through, Thursday will be more comfortable with a drop in humidity and lower temperatures.

ALSO WATCH | Thunderous lightning caught on video on Upper West Side

Video captures a thunderous lightning strike on the Upper West Side.

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June 27, 2024
Floods are raging in Minnesota. But few have flood insurance, state commerce agency says.

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MINNEAPOLIS — Just one inch of floodwater can cost homeowners $25,000 in damage, according to FEMA. But as parts of Minnesota are underwater, most don’t have the insurance to cover the high costs of the high water.

Of the 2 million households in the state, just over 6,700 have policies through the National Flood Insurance Program managed by FEMA — the main provider of flood insurance in the U.S. — a spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Commerce said. That represents a 35% decrease in policyholders from three years ago.

An additional 800 have insurance through private plans.

Aaron Cocking, president and CEO of the Insurance Federation of Minnesota, said people are often shocked to learn their homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover flooding.

“As we look across the devastation that we’re seeing in the state right now, this is a wake-up call for all of us,” he said.

Last year, the commerce department in a news release said Minnesota ranked last in the country for flood insurance adoption with less than 1% of homes having coverage; Louisiana ranked first at 25%.

But floods can have wide-ranging impacts on communities. On average, the agency says, 40% of claims to the National Flood Insurance Program happen outside of high-risk areas. Three years ago, the average flood insurance claim payment was more than $44,000 while the premium was $912.

Cocking notes that while the premium may seem high on top of other costly insurance bills, it is a worthwhile investment in the long run. State experts say Minnesota has experienced more damaging rains due to climate change.

With NFIP plans, homeowners can choose the scope of their coverage, but it maxes out at $250,000 for the structural damage and $100,000 for personal belongings. Policies are not effective until 30 days from purchase, with some exceptions.

To see a list of providers in Minnesota, click here.

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Caroline Cummings is an Emmy-winning reporter with a passion for covering politics, public policy and government. She is thrilled to join the WCCO team.

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June 26, 2024
Valleyfair closes 3 rides due to flooding

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Minnesota residents begin taking next steps to fix flood wreckage

Minnesota residents begin taking next steps to fix flood wreckage

04:01

SHAKOPEE, Minn. — Valleyfair temporarily closed three of the park’s rides on Tuesday evening as flood waters rise from the nearby Minnesota River.

The three rides are Excalibur, Thunder Canyon and Renegade. Parking areas have also been impacted by the flooding.

The majority of the rest of the park is above the current projected crest of the river, park officials say. The Minnesota River is expected to crest sometime on Saturday and will take a few days after that to recede.

The overflow lot at Canterbury will be open for Valleyfair guests. Free buses will run to the park every 15-20 minutes. There is also an overflow lot at Valleyfair, though only four-wheel drive vehicles are permitted to use it, as it is on an unpaved, grassy area.

Valleyfair

Flooding in recent days has impacted nearly half of Minnesota, as rivers reach record levels in southern Minnesota. The raging waters of the Blue Earth River caused a partial failure of the 114-year-old Rapidan Dam, and the American Red Cross has set up shelters across the state for those displaced.

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Aki Nace has been a web producer for CBS Minnesota since 2019. She covers breaking news and makes short-form documentary films.

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June 26, 2024
Gov. Walz says he may call special session over Minnesota flood damage

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar took an aerial tour of the region earlier in the day to survey flood damage. Thereafter, Walz said he would potentially call a special session if the damage costs end up higher than the relief money currently available.

“The human impact was, certainly in Waterville, many more homes, the impact certainly feels pretty dramatic with water up to the second floor,” Walz said Tuesday. “The process of starting clean up and that will simultaneously happen with damage assessments. There is a set process on how this works.”

The governor talked about working with local and federal partners to help with the rebuilding efforts but also warned that it will take time.

Klobuchar said that at $10.5 million is when federal aid, kicks in for public infrastructure, which is paid on a county-by-county basis once a disaster deceleration is made. In all, 12 counties are in disaster declarations from earlier weather events this year.

Klobuchar said that, as of yet, there are no deaths reported as a result of these latest floods.

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The governor and senator were joined by Minnesota National Guard Major General Shawn Manke, Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson and Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen.

Manke updated that over 40 guard members are in Waterville, helping man seven pump stations and making sure they are operating 24/7. Additionally, an armory in the Faribault area will open with assistance from the Red Cross to help families that may need it.

Petersen said that his administration is working closely with the USDA but the best thing farmers facing issues can do is go to their county office to report any issues or damage — crop loss, water in fields or damage to livestock facilities.

“Up in the air, it really shows the widespread difficulties our farmers face,” said Peterson. “A lot of those fields are going to struggle in the coming days and weeks.”

The Department of Agriculture has updated a new website with resources for flooding issues that farmers or Minnesotans related to agriculture may have. That can be found on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture state website.

On Monday, Walz called the flooding “unprecedented,” but said the state is prepared. It’s why there’s a partial activation at the State Emergency Operation Center, where partner state agencies are working together to coordinate what they call a “One Minnesota Effort.”

Massive flooding is now impacting nearly half of Minnesota. As of Tuesday morning, a few rivers in Minnesota are near, or in a few cases even above, record levels, including the Des Moines River near Avoca and Windom, and the Minnesota River at Henderson and Jordan.

Le Sueur County, which includes Waterville, has declared a state of emergency due to flood damage. Waterville officials said this is the worst flooding the town has ever seen. Parts of the city are underwater due to 14 to 18 inches of cumulative rainfall. Some areas are worse than others, with flood water knee-deep to hip-deep.

Following a request from the Le Sueur County Sheriff, Governor Walz declared a peacetime emergency on Saturday and authorized the Minnesota National Guard to assist with flood operations.

Flooding on the Blue Earth River caused an abutment of the Rapidan Dam to partially fail on Monday morning, and it remains in “imminent failure condition.” That dam is located just southwest of Mankato.

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Cole Premo is digital manager for CBS Minnesota. For more than a decade, he’s been covering breaking news and weather, daily topics, stories from the Native community and more in Minnesota.

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June 25, 2024