Communities in northwest Iowa are working feverishly with little sleep to halt the rising tides of swollen rivers due to record rainfall over the past week. The Rock River has risen to record levels and officials say it is expected to crest sometime Wednesday.

In Rock Rapids, the water is receding and is expected to fall below the 13-foot flood stage on Wednesday but a flood warning remains in effect through Thursday.

A state of emergency was declared in my hometown of Rock Valley, where anyone who was able filled and transported sandbags to affected areas. As of Tuesday night, the normally placid Winterfield Pit was spilling onto the road endangering nearby Hope Haven.

Restaurants and and other stores provided food and other goods to the volunteers.

I spoke with Rock Valley's Mayor, Kevin Van Otterloo, Tuesday morning and he said more volunteers were needed but was very thankful for the hard work of the entire town. Iowa's Governor, Terry Branstad, will tour the area Wednesday afternoon.

This is worse than the flooding of '93. These are unprecedented record levels. It's bad." - Rock Valley Mayor, Kevin Van Otterloo

The call for volunteers is out for Hawarden, Iowa, where residents hope to save property from the rising Big Sioux river on the South Dakota - Iowa border.

Flooding Rock Valley kids help
Sherwyn Van Otterloo
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Flooding Rock Valley Winterfield Pit
Sherwyn Van Otterloo
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Flooding Rock Valley volunteers by school
Sherwyn Van Otterloo
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Flooding Rock Valley streets
Sherwyn Van Otterloo
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Flooding Rock Valley
Sherwyn Van Otterloo
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