Torrential rain causes flood worries

Published 12:00 am Thursday, June 14, 2001

Another half-inch of rain in the city of Austin overnight has public safety officials concerned, but not yet worried, about possible flooding.

Thursday, June 14, 2001

Another half-inch of rain in the city of Austin overnight has public safety officials concerned, but not yet worried, about possible flooding.

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Austin Police Chief Paul M. Philipp told reporters today, "The water is coming up. If we have more rain today, we will definitely have problems."

Bob Nelson, Austin-Mower County emergency preparedness director, is also monitoring the situation as well as Austin city officials in the public works department.

Some sand is ready to be bagged and used to hold back the rising waters in vulnerable areas of the city.

Water lapped over 22nd Street SW, where Turtle Creek rose dramatically overnight.

The waters of the Cedar River and Dobbins and Turtle Creeks have not yet reached the levels necessitating a flood watch to be issued.

Once again, the amounts of rain received Wednesday and today in the watershed around Austin pose the greatest danger for flooding in the city, when they move downstream to Austin.

Investigate complaints

LEROY -An Austin man is the subject of another complaint to the Mower County Sheriff’s Department.

A rural LeRoy man alleges he offered the Austin man "earnest" money and two handguns toward the purchase of a semi truck owned by the Austin man.

When the truck was not delivered as promised, the LeRoy man asked for the return of his down payment on the truck and handguns, but the Austin man refused.

No charges have been filed and the Sheriff’s Department advised the LeRoy man his complaint with the Austin man was a civil and not a criminal matter.

On Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Department reported the Austin man was the subject of Internet fraud complaints, concerning his e-commerce business.

According to the complaints, he has received and cashed checks and money orders for auto parts ordered over the Internet, but never delivered to customers.

Also, the Mower County Attorney has ruled another possible Internet fraud scheme, involving an Elkton man, will not be prosecuted in the county.

The man claimed he purchased classic cars from a Canadian dealer over the Internet. When one of the cars arrived, it was found to be something other than the "classic" model the Canadian dealer advertised over the Internet.

In declining to prosecute the man’s complaint, the Mower County Attorney ruled the U.S. Attorney had proper jurisdiction.

‘Beware lightning’

Lightning Awareness Week will be observed June 19-22 in Mower County.

Bob Nelson, Austin-Mower County Emergency Preparedness Director, is coordinating the campaign to alert residents to the dangers of lightning.

During the week, safety tips will be broadcast over the NOAA Weather Radio and public service announcements distributed to media.

In the United States, there are an estimated 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes each year. Over the last 30 years, lightning strikes have killed an average of 73 people per year or more than the average of 68 deaths per year caused by tornadoes and the average of 16 deaths per year caused by hurricanes.

According to Nelson, some simple precautions are necessary when thunderstorms develop which contain lightning.

Lightning can strike as far as 10 miles away from the rain area.

People should avoid windows and doors and contact with anything that conduct electricity, during an electrical storm.

Call Lee Bornorden at 434-2232 or email him at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com