Flood Destroys Iowa’s Lake Delhi In One Day

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REUTERS/Iowa governor's office/Handout

Lake Delhi was nine miles long and a favorite vacation spot for Iowa residents. But in less than one day, a broken dam made the lake disappear.

Sudden flooding broke the 92-year-old dam that separated the lake from the Maquoketa River.Though the dam was old, it was still in proper condition — the flood was just too much water to handle.

The flooding destroyed 900 vacation homes and cottages around the lake. Plus, those who live in the area fear a sharp drop in value for their previously “lakefront” properties.  In total, around 8,000 people were affected by the flood.

A FEMA spokesperson said it was too soon to tell whether the lake qualified for agency assistance, but Chet Culver, Iowa’s governor, said he would put state resources into fixing the dam and restoring the area.

See video of the broken dam below, via the Des Moines Register.

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