Officials renew warning about flooded roads as culvert fails

Several Rice County roads remain closed following days of heavy rain that caused area rivers and lakes to flood nearby properties, farmland and roads.

Nine county roads were closed as of noon Thursday. Although two roads reopened Wednesday, a culvert failure on County Road 13 near Cannon Lake Wednesday afternoon closed a large section of road along the west side of the lake.

County Highway and law enforcement officials caution motorists about driving near flooded areas or around barricades.

“We don’t know what has happened to the roadway underneath that water,” said Rice County Engineer Dennis Luebbe. “It’s possible the road could be compromised or washed out completely. And roads may remain closed even after the water has receded to allow for thorough inspections of drainage structures and the roadway integrity.”

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, large amounts of standing and moving water, typical with flooding, have the power to damage and erode road surfaces, shoulders, ditches and embankments.

Driving around or moving barricades is illegal, and those who do so will be cited. Violators face a maximum $1,000 fine and/or 90 days in jail.

Emergency Management Director Joe Johnson also reminds residents not to walk, swim or dive in flood waters. Just six inches of moving water can knock down an adult and one foot of moving water can sweep away most cars.

“Remember, ‘turn around, don’t drown,’” Johnson said, using the well-known tagline meant as a reminder that it’s never safe to walk or drive into flood waters.

Nearly 60% of the 997 fatalities blamed on flooding from 2011 to 2020 happened in vehicles, according to the National Weather Service.

A complete list of road closures in Rice County and other flood-related information can be found at bit.ly/RiceCo_June2024RainEvent .