West DSM News

A swollen river, spring melt and heavy seasonal rains combined to wreak unprecedented flooding upon Southwest Iowa this year, the chairman of the legislature's Natural Resources Committee said.

"It was the perfect storm," Sen. Ken Rozenboom, R-Oskaloosa, said. "We had a river full of water, where winter precipitation had built up – a combination of thawing ice and snow melting – then heavy rain during the spring at the same time." 

Flooding still plagues the Hamburg-Percival-Pacific Junction area in the southwest corner of the state. 

Up until two weeks ago, flooded-out homeowners had been camping in Waubonsie State Park because of the lack of housing. As many as 80 people once made the park home. When its annual winterization commenced on Oct. 15, evacuees were once again forced to flee. 

Rozenboom represents District 40 in southeast Iowa. When contacted by West Des Moines News, he was unaware that displaced homeowners had been camping out in Waubonsie.

"I'm glad the state is helping them. This is the reality of freezing water," he said. "We don't have the infrastructure to take care of people during the cold winter months."

Although the park has turned off water to the campsites, hiking, rental cabins and a reception hall are still available for use at Waubonsie.

Rozenboom said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been involved providing relief from the Missouri River flooding "since the beginning." However, he took exception to the efforts of the Army Corps of Engineers.

"The Army Corps of Engineers is doing a poor job of managing the Missouri River. There should have been more management and more preparation," Rozenboom said. "From day one, I have been displeased with the management of the Army Corps of Engineers."