Cannon Falls experiences flooding; bus ends up in ditch near Red Wing casino

As a result of torrential rains Thursday, Cannon Falls is slowly being covered with water.

Local streets that have become submersed have been closed, Cannon Falls Police Chief Jeff McCormick reported. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has closed Highway 20 for the same reason.

In an attempt to limit property damage to structures, sandbagging has begun, McCormick said. Residents living near closed roads are advised to evacuate their homes.

Thursday’s flash flooding has put the level of the Cannon River above the level experienced during the September 2010 flood. The river has risen 28 inches since 2 a.m. today, while the Little Cannon River has gone up 39.

Rainfall totals varied across the area. U.S. Lock & Dam No. 3 reported 6.37 inches.

Flash flooding sent a bus into the ditch off Goodhue County Road 18 Thursday night.

The Metro Route 1 bus departed Treasure Island Resort & Casino around 10:30 p.m., a casino spokeswoman said. There were 16 passengers and the driver on board.

As the bus headed toward Hastings, rising waters from torrential rains caused the bus to go into the ditch. Several cars also left this stretch of road near the Etter Bridge.

A witness alerted Treasure Island’s dispatch center. The Prairie Island Police Department responded at 11 p.m. as well as casino security, which brought a Treasure Island shuttle bus to assist.

After the Metro Route bus was pulled from the ditch, the passengers were transferred to the shuttle. No passengers on the bus were injured and they returned to the casino at approximately 12:50 a.m. Four people stranded in personal vehicles also were brought to the casino.

The bus driver returned alone to the Twin Cities after the bus was pulled from the ditch.

“Thirteen people were provided hotel rooms and seven people decided they wanted to go back to the Twin Cities,” the casino said in a statement.

The Treasure Island shuttle took those individuals to the Cities. The remaining 13 people were returned to the Twin Cities Friday morning via a Treasure Island shuttle.

Red Wing's Levee Road also experienced flooding. Water backed up on several streets as the storm sewers couldn't drain the rain fast enough. Some neighborhood rain gauges topped 9 inches, people reported.

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