Melting snow and heavy rain from the "Bomb Cyclone" in the Midwest has caused historic flooding from the Platte and Missouri rivers.
Why it matters: Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said it's the worst flooding the state has experienced in 50 years, with at least two flood-related fatalities this week. Dams have failed, levees breached and other infrastructure stripped away as raging floodwaters and chunks of ice move downstream.
The details: The floods have resulted from a series of events including an extremely cold winter that allowed a thick snowpack to pile up. Then the intense storm brought a sudden pulse of heavy rainfall and mild temperatures. The rain fell on impermeable, frozen ground, causing huge amounts of runoff into area rivers and streams that were choked with thick blocks of ice.
This is looking South from Fremont on Highway 77. You can see the smoke from a trailer house that Fremont Fire and Fremont Rural are battling. pic.twitter.com/HS4xMuJXsS
— NSP Troop A (@NSP_TroopA) March 18, 2019
.@SenSasse and I joined @NENationalGuard to get an aerial view of flooding impact as we traveled to thank volunteers in Fremont, address a community meeting in Niobrara, and receive a briefing in Lynch. More here: https://t.co/78cd5jkTOG#NebraskaFlood | #NebraskaStrong pic.twitter.com/h32kyx0NE4
— Gov. Pete Ricketts (@GovRicketts) March 16, 2019
Flooding is expected to continue as water continues to move downstream. Roads and bridges are under inspection where water has begun recede. NDOT is working to provide detours for closures. Check https://t.co/KD6t82hKgL for closure updates and established detours. #Flood19 pic.twitter.com/TMTMm68GY3
— Nebraska DOT (@NebraskaDOT) March 17, 2019
Prayers for everyone in Nebraska. National news isn’t showing it so here are some pictures I have seen. #prayfornebraska pic.twitter.com/eArvccweib
— Gabriel (@gabebratetic) March 16, 2019
historic weather events in Nebraska this week: blizzards and now massive flooding. Dozens of communities have been completely evacuated, displacing thousands.
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) March 16, 2019
This is our National Guard dropping giant sandbags to build an island around a pump house—> pic.twitter.com/AeBKAsq1rK
Am hearing stories of Nebraska high school kids volunteering at local kennels — to walk dogs that have washed up in the floodwaters. #neighbors pic.twitter.com/FEvbSlYFxT
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) March 16, 2019
This is (was) a sheet metal grain bin. Water and ice did that. Unbelievable. @GovRicketts @NEMAtweets @BenSasse @NETAGBohac are touring Highway 12 in northern Nebraska now. pic.twitter.com/hDHmgX9pZL
— NEStatePatrol (@NEStatePatrol) March 16, 2019
One of the bridges that washed away in #NebraskaFlood #Nebraska Highway 281. pic.twitter.com/jtubaXYTsV
— Brian K Gamble (@BriankgambleNE) March 17, 2019
Please don't come to closed areas to sight see. You put yourselves at risk and the first responders as well. Barricades are placed and roads are closed for safety.
— NEStatePatrol (@NEStatePatrol) March 17, 2019
This is Highway 2 on the Missouri River near Nebraska City. pic.twitter.com/hehqDjyCQf
Storms happening every yr & think it's mother nature. Top pixs are what's left of Spencer dam in NE. It gave way sending 11ft wall of water, destroying farms, livestock, homes & ppl. Theres 3 nuclear planes on Missouri river & they is worry of a Fukushima type disaster happening. pic.twitter.com/ZhXj4e51w0
— Donnyd (@Donnyd1965) March 17, 2019
Some devastating images from Fremont County where the levees along the Missouri River have failed. Pics courtesy of @B103_FM #iawx pic.twitter.com/kU3ZXB8Vwf
— NWS Omaha (@NWSOmaha) March 17, 2019
Here is I-29 near Highway 192. Yup its underwater! #IAwx #Iowa #MissouriRiver Thanks to @iowadot for the camera! pic.twitter.com/7XeV9oMUPi
— James Sinko (@JamesSinko) March 17, 2019
What’s unreal is the damage to West Omaha, Elkhorn, Ashland, and Waterloo. Dodge street west of 214th washed out this morning. So many bridges and roads are damaged. These are pictures out by 218th and Maple right before Waterloo pic.twitter.com/T3rNrwHCZL
— Steve Hornbeck (@shorn71) March 17, 2019
This is another picture of the pedestrian bridge over the Platte River that I posted yesterday, the one that was severely damaged by the flooding. Despite the signage, see all the people on it. Human nature ... pic.twitter.com/6BB8bSoHAq
— Caribbean disaster (@BagalueSunab) March 17, 2019
The Fremont area on the Platte River. Each small island covered in dozens of cattle. #NebraskaFlood #Nebraska #Cattle pic.twitter.com/Blhc1jI4Be
— Brian K Gamble (@BriankgambleNE) March 17, 2019
We understand how important your pets are.
— NEStatePatrol (@NEStatePatrol) March 17, 2019
So when troopers come to the rescue, the pets gets rescued too.
(Not pictured: a massive dog who got to ride in the NSP helicopter!)
Great work, troops! pic.twitter.com/ZOJwxV3o3X
