In a series of harrowing events, severe floods have wreaked havoc on Minnesota's Blue Earth River and caused record-setting levels in several areas of Iowa. A dam breach along the Blue Earth River has led to the destruction of several buildings and roads, while Iowa has experienced extensive damage and one fatality.

Footage shared by Fox Weather captured the intense moment when the powerful current eroded the river's shore, engulfing a small building and nearby trees. The demolished structure was slowly carried away by the raging floodwaters, ultimately disappearing from view as it plummeted down a small waterfall.

Rapidan Dam, a 114-year-old structure, faced an imminent failure condition as storm debris accumulated around it. Videos from the scene depicted water bursting through large cracks in the dam, eroding the ground around a nearby home. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for downstream areas until 10:30 a.m., urging residents in low-lying regions of the Minnesota River Valley to monitor the situation and evacuate if necessary.

Blue Earth County officials attributed the dam breach to high water levels and debris from the weekend's flooding. Governor Tim Walz stated that at least 40 counties had been impacted by the flood, but fortunately, there have been no reports of serious injuries or deaths thus far. Walz emphasized the need to build back more resiliently in the face of these chaotic climate events.

Meanwhile, Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa revealed that the state also faced severe flooding due to the weekend storm. Record-setting levels were observed, resulting in one fatality, damage to thousands of homes, evacuation calls, and natural disaster declarations. Major surges in the Rock, Big Sioux, and Little Sioux Rivers shattered flood level records at 16 different locations in Iowa.

The surge along the Big Sioux River caused the collapse of the main railroad bridge connecting Iowa and South Dakota, according to Kare 11. Sioux City officials reported that the river crested at an astounding 45 feet, significantly surpassing the previous record of 37 feet in Riverside. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem expressed concern over the extensive infrastructural damage faced by her state, including damaged roads and bridges that would impact the region for months to come.

The impacts of these devastating floods highlight the urgent need to address climate change and build more resilient infrastructure to mitigate the potential damage caused by extreme weather events. Both Minnesota and Iowa remain in a state of emergency as they recover from the widespread destruction caused by the unprecedented floods.