Flooding hits Mason City

Four northcentral Iowa counties have received over a foot of rain in thepast 48 hours. The national weather service has issued a flood warning forthe Winnebago, Shell Rock and Cedar River. The weather service says majorflooding is forecast over the next several days on all of those rivers.Several areas along the Winnebago river in Mason City have been evacuatedtoday due to flooding. Mason City Mayor Bill Schickel says sandbaggingoperations are also underway.Schickel is asking residents to avoid using water unless it is absolutelynecessary to keep water out of the already overtaxed sewer system.The Winnebago River is expected to crest at 12 feet later today — that’sfive feet over flood stage.