Rising waters and eroding infrastructures continue to plague Rice County as officials issue renewed caution regarding the dangers of flooded roads. Days of intensive rainfall have left roads submerged, with nine of them being closed as of Thursday noon. Despite the re-opening of two roads on Wednesday, the sudden failure of a culvert on County Road 13 near Cannon Lake forced a large section of the thoroughfare to shut down. This is a potent reminder of the unseen damage that flooding can quickly to cause roads and underlying structures.
Residents are strongly advised to avoid attempting to drive or even to walk near areas impacted by flooding. "We don’t know what has happened to the roadway underneath that water,” Rice County Engineer Dennis Luebbe explained in a statement released by the Rice County, Minnesota. He stressed the potential severity, noting, "It’s possible the road could be compromised or washed out completely." Not only is there a question of immediate danger, but roads may also stay closed post-flood to allow time for necessary inspections of the drainage structures and to assess the roadway integrity.
The risks associated with circumventing road closures are legally and physically significant. Tampering with or ignoring barricades is not only hazardous but also illegal, carrying penalties that include a hefty $1,000 fine and/or 90 days in jail. Moreover, the Federal Emergency Management Agency cautions that both standing and moving floodwaters possess the strength to seriously harm road surfaces as well as surrounding infrastructure.
Backing these cautions with harrowing statistics, Emergency Management Director Joe Johnson reminds residents that when it comes to flood waters, safety is non-negotiable. " Just six inches of moving water can knock down an adult and one foot of moving water can sweep away most cars," Johnson told the press, advocating for the precautionary principle encapsulated by the slogan "turn around, don’t drown." This advice is grounded in reports from the National Weather Service, which attribute nearly 60% of flood-related deaths between 2011 and 2020 to individuals in vehicles.
For a comprehensive and updated list of the road closures as well as additional flood-related information within Rice County, officials have made resources available online. Residents can access these vital updates by visiting Rice County's advisory page.
