Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
RAIN
RAIN. Within a 12-hour period on July 27-28, 2011, Dubuque received up to 15 inches of rain. Key West recorded 15.1 inches, the MINES OF SPAIN received 14.5 inches while the DUBUQUE REGIONAL AIRPORT marked 10.74 inches.
The downpour caused flash flooding, tore up roads and bridges, and flooded homes and businesses. A small pond west of Dubuque and south of the NICC campus received enough water to flood Highway 20 and block traffic. Heritage Pond between Dubuque and Sageville rose out of its banks and flood Highway 52 north stopping traffic for hours. City engineers carefully watched the emergency overflow drain along the NORTHWEST ARTERIAL to make sure that section of road was not blocked.
The MISSISSIPPI RIVER rose dramatically. at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, the river was at 12.14 feet. At 2 p.m. Thursday it crested at 16.82 feet.
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad toured the region on Thursday and proclaimed Dubuque a disaster area.
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Sources:
"Unprecedented," Telegraph Herald, July 29, 2011, p. 1
"Swamped," Telegraph Herald, Aug.5, 2011, p. 9E
