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Residents Of Carlton Asked To Evacuate Due To Floods

CARLTON, Minn. (WCCO) -- The flooding has been so bad in Carlton, Minn. that hundreds of residents have been asked to evacuated.

On Wednesday, 700 people were asked to evacuate a city where the streets now look more like giant swimming pools.

Carlton County Commissioner Robert Olean hasn't seen it this bad since flooding 20 years ago.

"Ten inches of rain since Sunday. It's all building and building and building. The roads are overflowed. It's gathering in the swamps and now it's gotta escape, it's gotta go someplace," said Olean.

Businesses were also asked not to open.

"I'm just hope we don't get any more rain. I could go a couple of weeks now without any more rain. This is enough," said Olean.

But with more rain expected, matters could get worse in Carlton before they get better.

Late Wednesday afternoon, the Carlton County Sheriff's Office said, "no travel in Carlton county is advised for the overnight hours as conditions continue to deteriorate."

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for St. Cloud and the Mississippi River. They're expecting the river to reach flood stage early Friday.

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