Monona County, Iowa

This tornado tragically hit a boyscout camp north of Little Sioux Iowa killing 4 young scouts. The tornado initially touched down in Burt county Nebraska, crossed into Harrison county Iowa near mile marker 97 on Interstate 29, and then finally crossed into Monona county Iowa about 4 miles north of Little Sioux. In Monona county the tornado entered the Little Sioux Scout Ranch, destroying the rangers home near the entrance of the park giving it a rating of EF3. The storm then blew down trees and destroyed bunk houses at the camp. Four scouts were killed in one bunk house when a brick chimney collapsed on them. In total 48 people were injured at the camp. The tornado continued to topple trees as it tracked into Preparation Canyon State Park. Just before it entered the park a farmstead sustained damage. The tornado hit another farmstead about 2.5 miles southwest of Moorhead where trees were blown down and sheds damaged. The tornado then began to weaken and finally lifted about 2 miles southwest of Moorhead. The total path length was around 14 miles.

Flooding along the Missouri River gradually worsened over Monona county during June and July as record releases from Gavins Point Dam brought widespread flooding along the river. Conditions improved markedly during August as releases were reduced and the river level at Decatur dropped below flood stage late in the month. Flooding in Monona county was mainly confined to agricultural lowlands, recreation areas and roads near the river. However, Blencoe started sandbag operations in June as did other businesses from Blencoe to Onawa. The flooding forced the post office in Blencoe to move operations to a nearby town. Late in June the Highway 175 bridge over the Missouri between Decatur and Onawa was closed due to erosion of the abutment on the Iowa side of the bridge and the bridge and highway remained closed through August. The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation estimated that the flood event caused total crop and economic losses of $32.3 million in Monona county.

This is for flooding along the Maple River. The river gage at Mapleton, operated by the USGS, peaked at 23.60 feet at 6:15 pm on March 14th. Minor flood stage is 21 feet, moderate flood stage is 24 feet . Preliminarily this peak is the 2nd highest on record. Ice jamming may have played a role in the flooding at this location. The flooding caused damage and the closure of Hwy. 183 West of Mapleton. Hwy 175 south of Mapleton and the closure of Hwy. 175 North of Mapleton. Also the local Airport was totally flooded and damaged. Flood totals are for for the County including from damage caused by flooding of the Soldier River.