Southwest Minn. Roads, Homes Succumb To Floodwaters

REDWOOD FALLS, Minn. (WCCO) -- Mother Nature is making celebrations uncertain on the Fourth of July. The torrential rain in southwestern Minnesota has left some neighborhoods under water.

Ramsey Park in Redwood Falls is typically a popular place to camp on the Fourth of July holiday.

Unfortunately, those plans were ruined for people because the campground had to be closed due to rising river levels and a rapid current.

Living in Redwood Falls for decades, Ted and Karen Gatfield typically come to the park to enjoy a different view of nature than they did on Tuesday.

"We have seen it in the spring, when the spring flooding or when the ice lets go, but not in summer," Karen said. "This is the highest that I have ever seen it."

With river waters rising, the popular Swayback Bridge had to be shut down, creating a dam of sorts with tree trunks, branches and debris.

Redwood Falls was not the only place hit hard by the torrential rain and flash flooding. From high above, the WCCO Sky Four helicopter was able to capture the devastation across southwestern Minnesota.

In Walnut Grove in Redwood County, the floodwaters came gushing out of a utility pipe.

At Lake Shetek in Murray County, rising waters ruined Fourth of July fun, swallowing up docks and boats.

This portion of the state is not out of the woods just yet. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for portions of southwestern Minnesota that will stay in effect until 4 p.m. Wednesday.