An evacuation order is now in effect as flood waters are impacting the Butler County town of New Hartford. Around 4:30 this morning, all 500 residents of New Hartford received a Code Red alert that they were being forced to evacuate due to the rising Beaver Creek.
Heavy rains in the area on Monday caused a rapid rise in the level of the creek, and waters have began to invade parts of New Hartford. Residents began sandbagging on Monday afternoon, hoping to keep flood waters out of homes, businesses, and a local elementary school.
The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department says some residents will be taken to the Boyd Building in the nearby town of Shell Rock. This is the second time in less than a month that residents of New Hartford had to leave their homes due to rising waters.
A limited evacuation was also put in place when Beaver Creek flooded back on May 27.
By Jesse Gavin, KCNZ, Cedar Falls