‘An extraordinary rainstorm’: Grand Island under state of emergency after flooding

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Grand Island Mayor Roger Steele declared a state of emergency Thursday after heavy rainfall caused flooding in the area.

City officials said dozens of vehicles were stranded on streets across Grand Island. No injuries or deaths have been reported.

More than 7 inches of rain fell between 11 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. Thursday.

“This was an extraordinary rainstorm and is very similar to the historic rains seen in the 2005 floods,” said Hall County Emergency Management Director Jon Rosenlund.

Some homeowners reported backed-up sewers, along with water running into basements.

The flooding caused “severe damage” to public and private property, according to the city.

Steele thanked everyone involved with rescue efforts and the people of Grand Island for being diligent.

“What we’ve seen over the last 12 hours is what it looks like when a city is ready,” he said. “And although this is a storm of extraordinary magnitude, our teams were already in motion before the first inch of rain hit the ground.”

Grand Island Police Chief Kevin Denny said the department activated its emergency rescue vehicle, which is a large vehicle capable of driving through flooded streets.

Denny said they were able to use it to perform a few rescues from vehicles and homes.

The Grand Island Police Department’s Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle drives through floodwaters.

Courtesy: City of Grand Island

According to Denny, the department totaled 107 calls for service between midnight and 11 a.m. Thursday.

Of those calls, two of them required rescues from homes. Denny also said crews are still trying to clear a few vehicles from the roads.

Grand Island resident Charlene Sanders-Arp told Channel 8 the water came in fast, saying her sister’s apartment had water pouring through her window.

“We’ve lived where we’re at right now for six years and there’s always been this water retention here,” she said. “And so I walked out, and I was like, ‘Whoa! Never seen that before.'”

Her sister said she’s been digging water out of the trunk of her car.

Rosenlund said the city will be actively monitoring rivers, creeks and other drainage areas for the next few days for future flooding.

Officials said the standing water around town is also a concern, as it could become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

This is a developing story. Check with Channel 8 for the latest.