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Rulo Residents Evacuating due to Rising River

By Matthew Leaf

06/22/2014

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Missouri River, June 22, 2014

(KTNC)-- Several residents of Rulo who live along the Missouri River spent Sunday packing up belongings and heading for higher ground, as the Missouri River level continues to rise.
Richardson County Emergency Management Agency issued a voluntary evacuation notice Saturday evening, after a meeting with the Rulo Village Board and Richardson County Commissioners.
The river stage Sunday was at 19.7-feet, 2.7-feet above flood stage. The forecast is for the river to crest at near 22.5-feet early Monday afternoon before beginning to fall.
Roads leading to areas along the river in Rulo have been closed to all but local residents. Richardson County Emergency Management Director Brian Dixon says they can’t guarantee utilities and access to emergency services should the roads be flooded.
The road will remain closed until the floodwaters recede and are deemed safe. The evacuation will be lifted when the roads are reopened.
The evacuation is voluntary, and Dixon doesn’t anticipate it becoming mandatory. He said Sunday that a few residents were staying while others were heeding the evacuation order. Dixon says people living along the river have grown accustomed to flooding and many have taken steps, including elevating their homes, to mitigate the effects of flooding.
The Richardson County Emergency Management Agency’s Mobile Operations Center is stationed in Rulo, and Dixon says they will be there, 24-7, until the evacuation order is lifted.