Iron Mountain Lake spillway struggles with flooding 

Stephanie Kim, editor

Photo from the St. Francois County Emergency Management Facebook page.

The Iron Mountain Lake spillway was the cause for concern during the heavy rainfall this week. Though not mandatory, residents were urged on Monday, Nov. 4, to evacuate from their homes.

Many people shared their concerns on Facebook, with the Bismarck Fire Protection District and St. Francois County Emergency Management pages posting updates.

Yesterday morning, St. Francois County Emergency Management said, “We are still closely monitoring the situation at the Iron Mountain Lake Spillway. The water level has come down since last night, but we’ll continue to keep watch until the rain moves out of the area.

“For your safety, please do not drive past any barricades. They are in place to protect you. Stay safe, and thank you for your cooperation! We’ll keep you updated on any changes.”

On Nov. 4, they posted an alert for residents in the area saying, “The levy near Iron Mountain Lake is in danger of failing. We strongly urge all residents in the purple-outlined areas on the map to consider evacuating your homes. Although this is not a mandatory evacuation, leaving now will allow our first responders to focus on cleanup efforts and ensure everyone’s safety.

Photo from the St. Francois County Emergency Management Facebook page.

“Your cooperation is critical during this time. If you decide to evacuate, please take essential items with you and stay with friends or family if possible. By evacuating voluntarily, you will help ease the burden on our emergency services, allowing them to respond more effectively.”

Stephanie Kim is the editor of the Daily Journal. She can be reached at skim@dailyjournalonline.com.