Evacuation efforts continue in New Hartford in Butler County due to flooding Sunday night. Nearby Beaver Creek is expected to crest at 14-and-a-half feet later today. Butler County Emergency Management Director Steve Ulrich says volunteers are going door-to-door and evacuating residents with whatever means possible, using boats and vehicles, while power and gas have been securited. Ulrich says residents have the option of staying at the University of Northern Iowa’s West Gymnasium or at the school in New Hartford.
Red Cross Spokesperson Mary Ann Sinklear says many New Hartford residents have already packed into the gym. Sinklear says some people are arriving with suitcases, bags of belongings and their pets. Sinklear says the West Gymnasium shelter is equipped to bed up to 200 flood evacuees.
The evacuation comes two weeks to the day after a tornado ripped through New Hartford and Parkersburg.