Flooding Leads to Highway Closures Around Iowa; SUV is Swept From Road, Driver Believed Dead

Flooding has led to the closure of numerous highways and roads around the state are closed Tuesday. Flooded roads are serious. A SUV was swept from a road west of Parkersburg this morning. The driver, Howard R. Hodson Sr., 71, of Ackley, is believed dead. There are closures or blockages on IA 14, IA 21 (2 reports), IA 31, US 61, US 63, IA 149, IA 330. Here are details from the Iowa Department of Transportation:

• IA 21: Road closed. Between IA 212 and County Road E66 (near Belle Plaine). The road is closed because of flooding.
• IA 149 in both directions: Road closed. Between County Road V5G and IA 92 (near Sigourney). The road is closed because of flooding.
• IA 31: Road closed. Between County Road D30 and County Road D22 (near Correctionville). The road is closed because of flooding.
• IA 21: Road closed. Between IA 149 (1 mile north of the Hedrick area) and County Road G48 (1 mile south of the Delta area). The road is closed because of flooding.
• US 30 eastbound: Left lane closed. Between County Road T47 and Exit 202: US 63 (2 miles east of the Montour area). The left lane is closed because of flooding.
• US 63: Road closed. Between County Road E64 and US 30 (near Tama). The road is closed because of flooding. Follow the local detour.
• US 61: Road closed. Between IA 22 and US 67 (near Davenport). The road is closed because of flooding.
• IA 330 in both directions: Road blocked. Between County Road E29 and County Road S75 (near Albion). The road is blocked because of flooding. Follow the local detour.
• IA 14 in both directions: Road blocked. Between US 30 and IA 330 (near Marshalltown). The road is blocked because of flooding.

• Never drive around barriers that warn you the road is flooded – turn around and find another route. If your route is blocked by barricades, find another route. Road beds may be washed out under flood waters. Barricades are put up by state or local officials to protect travelers from unsafe roads. Driving around them can be a serious risk.
• Avoid sight-seeing or entering a storm-affected area unnecessarily. As little as six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet.
• If you attempt to drive through water, your vehicle may stall or get stuck in the water, and then get pushed off the road. Once off the road, vehicles often start to roll, making escape difficult or impossible.
• Leave your vehicle immediately and seek higher ground if your vehicle is suddenly caught in rising water.
• Help others: If you see a nonbarricaded, water-covered roadway or major obstruction, such as a blocked culvert or bridge opening, call the local law enforcement agency so they can alert the appropriate road agency. Warn children not to play near swollen creeks or rivers, storm drains, culverts and bridges, or on flooded streets and roadways.