(Spirit Lake)– Heavy thunderstorms that dumped three to as much as five inches of rain on the Iowa Great Lakes in less than just a few hours this (Thurs.) morning combined with already high water levels to push the Iowa Great Lakes out of their banks in most areas.
Especially hard hit is the harbor and canal area on West Lake Okoboji where severe flooding is being reported in some cases. Atleast one home in the harbor area has sustained severe flood damage.
Extensive flooding is also reported in the Crescent Beach and Miller’s Bay areas where the canals have gone out of their banks.
Residents of Spirit Lake and Lake Park were advised to refrain from using water as much as possible until further notice. Officials in both cities say the sanitary and storm sewer systems are running at or near capacity and are concerned over the potential for sewer back-ups.
Many streets in Spirit Lake had water atleast six inches deep running through them at the height of this (Thurs.) morning’s downpours.
Officials are deeply concerned over lake levels, which they say will continue to increase over the next several days as run-off from heavy rains in the northern part of the lakes area watershed flows into the system.
