MANCHESTER, Iowa (AP) — Warning sires are blowing in the small eastern Iowa town of Hopkinton as water continues to flow through a dam on Lake Delhi (DEHL'-hy).
Torrential rains have been causing the lake to rise in recent days. Floodwaters from the Maquoketa (muk-KOH'-keh-tuh) River have eaten a 30-foot-wide gap into the earthen dam. The lake's level has now dropped as much as 45 feet, with water flowing into the area below the dam.
Water was beginning to surround homes in Hopkinton, a town of about 700 people. Emergency officials in Delaware County say it'll likely cause "significant losses of property."
A meteorologist with the National Weather Service says areas below the dam will see an "initial wave from the sudden shot of water" caused by the dam's failure. That will be followed by a secondary crest as the high water above the dam made its way downstream.
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<<APPHOTO IACED350 (07/24/10)>>
: Maquoketa River water surges over the bridge of the Delhi Dam as areas surrounding the Maquoketa River continue to flood on Saturday, July 24, 2010.
<<APPHOTO IACED351 (07/24/10)>>
: Maquoketa River water surges over the bridge of the Delhi Dam as areas surrounding the Maquoketa River continue to flood on Saturday, July 24, 2010.
<<APPHOTO IACED352 (07/24/10)>>
: Maquoketa River water surges over the bridge of the Delhi Dam as areas surrounding the Maquoketa River continue to flood on Saturday, July 24, 2010. (AP Photo/The Gazette, Julie Koehn)
<<APPHOTO IACED353 (07/24/10)>>
: Kenny Lewis, of Manchester, carries photos out of the home of his mother-in-law in the Freddy's Beach area of Lake Delhi on Saturday, July 24, 2010. The Maquoketa River which flows to form Lake Delhi has yet to reach crest which is predicted to be record breaking.
<<APPHOTO IACED354 (07/24/10)>>
: Patsy Rounds stands near her home in the Freddy's Beach area of Lake Delhi as flood water continues to creep up to her first floor on Saturday, July 24, 2010. The Maquoketa River which flows to form Lake Delhi has yet to reach crest which is predicted to be record breaking.
<<APPHOTO IACED355 (07/24/10)>>
: Tony Woodruff, of Lake Delhi, (left) and Greg Ragsdale, of Janesville, carry a trunk out of the home of Patsy Rounds who has lived in the home by herself for 15 years in Freddy's Beach area of Lake Delhi on Saturday, July 24, 2010. Neither of them know Rounds but were going throughout the resort evacuating people who needed help. The Maquoketa River which flows to form Lake Delhi has yet to reach crest which is predicted to be record breaking.
