A dam in Minnesota is facing “imminent failure” and risks collapsing due to rapid floods in the region.
Rapidan Dam in Blue Earth County is breaking due to intense flooding, which has compromised the structural integrity, as well resulting in significant damage to the area’s infrastructure.
Debris started accumulating at the 114-year-old structure on Sunday and as of yesterday, it remains intact but in “imminent failure condition”.
“We do not know if it will totally fail or if it will remain in place, however we determined it was necessary to issue this notification to advise downstream residents and the correct regulatory agencies and other local agencies,” the sheriff’s office wrote on Facebook on Monday.
The Rapidan dam in Minnesota is on the brink of collapse ReutersStaff from Blue Earth County Public Works, the emergency management agency, and the sheriff’s office are actively monitoring the dam.
Locals living nearby have been altered, however there are currently no plans for a “mass evacuation” of the 45,000 residents living in the valley.
Governor Tim Walz said the dam’s structural integrity “has been a question for a long time”.
“The removal of the dam has been a question that’s been up there,” Walz told reporters on Monday.
It remains intact but in 'imminent failure condition'
Reuters
“Across the state, intense rain has had catastrophic effects. Flooding has left entire communities under feet of water, causing severe damage to property and numerous road closures."
In a statement on Monday, he said: “Our agencies are in close contact with Blue Earth County and other local officials regarding the Rapidan Dam near Mankato. Emergency management is on the ground and acting quickly to ensure the safety of Minnesotans as the situation develops.”
He has also mobilised the state’s National Guard amid the continued flooding.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has also given a flash flood warning to those living in affected areas, yet no official evacuation order has been given.
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Staff from Blue Earth County Public Works, the emergency management agency, and the sheriff’s office are actively monitoring the dam.
Reuters
However, in Minnesota, evacuations cannot be mandated by local law, with only Walz being able to make that decision.
A report from Blue Earth County noted that consistent flooding at the dam, which was completed in 1910, has caused significant damage to the structure.
It said the only two options were to repair or remove the dam, both of which come with high costs.
