Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen are jointly asking people to remain off the Missouri River in the coming days.
The two governors said that water levels are continuing to surpass the flood stage. They added that there may be debris in the water, causing even more of a danger to people.
Reynolds and Pillen stressed the seriousness of the situation, saying that safety is a priority.
“Now is not the time to be on the water. In addition to higher-than-normal flow, there’s also the potential for more debris in the water, which poses a significant risk to anyone on the Missouri. It’s best to wait until levels return to normal to resume regular activities,” Reynolds and Pillen said in a joint release.
The message comes as emergency management officials and representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continue to track the situation.
After excessive rainfall in northeast Nebraska, northwest Iowa and southeast South Dakota, Siouxland communities are experiencing unprecedented flooding with most expected to flow into the Missouri River. Numerous people have been affected by the flooding as well as road closures and evacuations.