Wanda and Randy Bliek woke up to the sound of water surrounding their home in Rock Valley, Iowa. They quickly got into their pickup truck, but the water pushed them against the curb. Unable to open the doors, they had to escape through the windows and wade through the neck-high water on the street. They had to swim and walk for eight blocks to reach safety, with their neighbors calling for help from their rooftops.
During this terrifying ordeal, Wanda, 65, expressed doubt about continuing, but Randy encouraged her to keep going, reminding her that they needed to survive. Rock Valley, a town of 4,000 people, was severely affected by the weekend flooding, with homes destroyed and fields flooded, forcing residents to evacuate.
As the new week began and the floodwaters started to recede in some areas, the danger was still present. In North Sioux City, S.D., along the Big Sioux River, a crucial railroad bridge collapsed late Sunday night due to the record-breaking water levels. Additionally, a dam in southern Minnesota was at risk of failing on Monday.
The Midwest region faced significant challenges due to the severe flooding, with officials in Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota reporting widespread damage and ongoing threats to communities. The resilience and determination of individuals like Wanda and Randy Bliek, who managed to survive and overcome the obstacles they faced, serve as a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of natural disasters.