Rapidan Dam failure leaves home teetering on collapse

[@vintagelady1]

Excellent reporting, condolences to family losing the house, but I hope the store has a chance there!

[@guyfawkesuThe1]

You live next to a river. Your fault.

[@Mrbink01]

@@guyfawkesuThe1 really? Get a life

[@jakeh3144]

@@guyfawkesuThe1 You do realize that before the water eroded the shore, you couldn't actually even see the house there right? It was easily 100-200 feet from the river bank and there were very mature trees hiding the view of the house from the other side of the river. The amount of shore that eroded away to reach that house is unprecedented. No one would have ever predicted that was even possible.

[@weatherchaser1166]

lolololol @Excellent reporting

[@frontlinecars20yroldfinds78]

Condolences to all the innocent people that lost their lives by other human beings and racism and genocide and bias and other people that lost everything and didn't have insurance or couldn't afford insurance or a tornado blow they house away* of course all lives matter right?

[@stonemagic540]

that little dam was built to take a beating 120 years old wow..

[@JoeLinux2000]

The dam is actually holding. The river just moved around it.

[@jttyler6419]

You cant stop nature

[@enajarro21]

They made sec video on this few off

[@jimcroft21]

Imagine this happening to your family home.. just heartbreaking 💔

[@9Crow]

imagine no air conditioning and its hot

[@williemo44]

Dam shame.

[@MomentsofRage]

Looking at this house, I feel sorry for the family. All their property was lost in one day. May God bless them with peace

[@herbb8547]

Had it been my house, I would have had trucks haul large boulders and placed them so the river could not cause so much erosion. But nothing was done. The water simply swept away the unprotected soil. Snooze and you lose.

[@MomentsofRage]

@@herbb8547 I think planting more trees nearby to preserve the land is best if we move the house to the mainland

[@UQRXD]

I stop living by a river 20 years ago and won't live next to one ever again. I was a stress.

[@devengudinas1649]

You should try living in a van down by the river.

[@DARWINZOO]

@@devengudinas1649 seen campsites wiped out.

[@mho...]

always lived "on hills" my entire life, flooding is just one issue we never had to deal with!

[@UQRXD]

@@devengudinas1649 Oh my.

[@cantsleepclownswilleatme]

@@devengudinas1649 You’ll be doing a lot of doobie rolling

[@nicolehidden523]

I remember going that store when I was a kid. Jenny and David are such good people. Hope this river leaves it alone.

[@hotzterz]

It gave way and fell in 2-3 hours ago.

[@nicolehidden523]

​@@hotzterz I just saw 😢

[@ravennajade3435]

Really hurts my heart to see what their family is losing. Prayers.

[@Patricia-vd9xh]

Bless that family.

[@plynwow]

How incredibly sad this incident is.

[@Nicole215]

Thank God they are safe. The merchandise, home, and store can all be replaced. Praying all will work out for the family. 🙏🏽

[@Richie8a8y]

I understand the county has forgone routine maintenance of removing debris (the logs) that restrict the flow. This never would have happened but for this negligence. The entire country has neglected our infrastructure by degrees for over 30 years and the results are critical imminent and catastrophic.

[@joeuser633]

Now they get to buy someone a new house and maybe a new store.

[@LeonardoHakaisha]

​@@joeuser633When you say 'they' you mean the taxpayer. That's who is going to get stuck with the bill at the end of all of this, and it's going to be a big one. At the behest of government incompetence no less. What do we even pay taxes when the government has no interest in the well being of its own constituency one has to wonder...

[@JoeLinux2000]

That's because wasting billions on Ukraine is more important. Inviting in endless illegal welfare recipients is more important too.

[@billm2078]

Walz and the democrats earmarked all that money for the urban renewal.

[@DanL57]

@@JoeLinux2000 Ukraine has nothing to do with Rapidan Dam. You ought to stick with playing your video games.

[@davidmichael4002]

Never lived at the waters edge....for good reason. Prayers for this family.

[@AngryChicKen-VIP]

I lived a flooding and prayers do nothing. Pack , get off if youre down the river, fast. If the worst can happen, it will. (murphy) This thing will break in a minute... It's only an old house, btw.

[@lindaadelwerth8042]

​@Oi-Oi-Oi-420 Its just not a house, They have a store there that they run. Now their way of making money is gone. Her 84 yr old Father lives in the house. It's a Family Home and Business and They are Going to Lose Everything. Have Some Compassion for Crying Out Loud SMDH

[@plmn93]

@@lindaadelwerth8042 Looks like the store may be OK, for now. Though they probably depended on this being a little local tourist attraction with the dam and park. May be tough to keep it going now.

[@AngryChicKen-VIP]

@@lindaadelwerth8042 There is insurance for that. He's still alive, that's what I mean. Look at this video, we lost our house in that flooding, when I was 15 yeas old. No compassion helped. Money did. Food did. Forget the THINGS care about THE PEOPLE. BTW who are you to tell me what to do??? kzbin.info/www/bejne/gouxmmWmr56Ypbc (its in french but you still see)

[@AngryChicKen-VIP]

@@lindaadelwerth8042 I mean they still are alive. Forget about the store, there is insurance for that. It could be worst, and BY the WAY, COMPASSION AND PRAYERS DONT BRING FOOD AND MONEY, THEY NEED MONEY, i LOST MY HOUSE WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD, IN A FLOODING, YOU WILL NOT TELL ME WHAT TO THINK ABOUT THAT, GOT IT ??? It's time to get off, not to pray. good luck

[@joewoodchuck3824]

Some prevention could have helped a lot. They didn't even bother to try and remove the log jam.

[@jimmyjones2896]

"The dam is plugged and the water is going around." No kidding. So maybe had the local city administrator done something to unplug the dam, maybe this could have been prevented.

[@Crimson_Tango]

I assumed that it was plugged due to the debris from the flooding. Was this damn plugged before this even happened?

[@BruceEEvans1]

It is incredibly easy to pronounce what SHOULD have been done by somebody else. It's called Monday morning quarterbacking.

[@bobknull7502]

So your theory is that the city administrator could have stopped all of those trees from washing down the river ????

[@TheBatugan77]

You're a second guessing sac o'shit, jimmah.

[@libbyjensen1858]

How exactly do you expect them to unplug the river? It's impossible to remove trees and other large objects with water moving at the volume shown in the report.

[@robinclark9805]

Too the family so sorry for your home😢

[@zoebear1992]

In Michigan, in 2020, the Sanford lake and the Wixom lake are no longer here, both dams gave way, i have never seen anything like it. Praying for you all!

[@nicotti]

But those dams are in the process of being rebuilt, so they'll have their lakes again in a couple years.

[@LeonardoHakaisha]

​@@nicottito be fair, all these dams that have failed were built almost a century ago. They should have been better maintained or replaced by the state or local governance LONG AGO, but never were. Now the cost to fix will be enormous, and the citizens of Michigan have to suffer either directly through property damage and loss, or indirectly through higher taxes to pay for everything. It's extremely disheartening.

[@nicotti]

@@LeonardoHakaisha Yes, I'm familiar with the situation there.

[@zoebear1992]

@@nicotti maybe, until mother nature takes over again.

[@jeffreyleckrone7593]

We lost our home in Midland when the Sanford Lake dams broke.

[@reneevogel8180]

Prayers for the families 😢

[@joannejohnson7006]

Such a beautiful property and many memories as well This is very sad Thinking about you

[@coldspring624]

Such a crime to have to watch your home be destroyed through no fault of your own.

[@SteveSmith-kd9if]

👆 ZOMBIE SYSTEM BOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jakeyjakey4018]

natural disaster, no one has to pay for anything thats lost

[@bobknull7502]

@@jakeyjakey4018 No one ?

[@DanielWSonntag]

Except for the part of building it on a river

[@mickpatterson6402]

What crime?

[@allegra9967]

Insurance is already high now it’ll be much higher 😮

[@georgebowlby9093]

So sorry to see all the damage destruction loss for the people.that has to be very hard to watch your house 🏠, about to be destroyed.god please help everyone going through all this.

[@biancakarteron5620]

Im sorry for your loss.

[@jefffoutz4024]

Breaks my heart and angers me at the same time.....

[@Richie8a8y]

Yes the county has forgone routine maintenance of removing debris (the logs) that restrict the flow. This never would have happened but for this negligence. The country has neglected our infrastructure by degrees for over 30 years and the results are critical imminent and catastrophic.

[@jefffoutz4024]

@@Richie8a8y Truly saddens me. I have fond memories of living on Cleveland St in North Mankato....

[@CM-xr9oq]

Why does it anger you?

[@jefffoutz4024]

@@CM-xr9oq Maintenance....

[@mr.e-kh9bq]

Man I swear the Midwest has the strongest people in America. I grew up in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota area. When weather or disaster strikes they are quick to overcome.

[@kristintyler3410]

WOW! Prayers for health and peace

[@cynthiasmith4130]

Prayers for all there... 🙏🙏😢😢😢...

[@MrHondablink]

I worked in that substation over 20yrs ago. I'd hate to see inside after this. Those generators are shot.

[@deborahlauterbach6156]

Am so saddened with this. Holding onto Faith, praying for a new door to open for a brand new beginning. May the Lord protect, provide for, and guide this family to recovery. Amen.

[@FER-dt2qp]

Sorry/Take care ! 🙏🙏

[@TVeres-3dRm]

Praying for Minnesota. ❤ Went through similar situation with Hurricane Matthew in NC when levies broke and flooded everything within miles. Stay Safe, Stay Strong! God Bless.

[@Darci3333]

So devastating and horrible. Cant imagine watching all your hopes, dreams, plans, and yes money be slowly eroded by the raging river😢😢😢😢 My condolences and prayers for them and all the other families affected by this😢

[@Alien_isolationist]

Well they do have a business. They should've set up a gofundme and mentioned it on this report. Oops.

[@dianamorris1647]

A few years since Oroville Dam in California received "repairs" after threatening potentially massive failures during a flood. When Presidents "talk" infrastructure, this has always come to mind, because nearly ALL engineering feats of dams throughout the country are damaged with cracks & fissures, most built 100 plus years ago. Also, numerous roads & bridges require repairs.....as such, it is even more absurd to see the petty & corrupt politics spending hard-earned taxes on nonsense. Blessings to MN, and prayers for ppl, who suffer as a result of system failures.

[@liberty-matrix]

100 year old dam, America's crumbling infrastructure.

[@CountryAndProud]

Um the dam didnt crumble..its still standing.. btw any dam no matter how old will overflow if.. get this... too much water comes down river. The fact that it's still stranding given one whole bank side has eroded away shows how well built it is.

[@oldphart-zc3jz]

Somebody is either a shill or doesn't understand how dams work and why that one is in fact working as designed. Why do humans with zero technical background permit themselves opinions on subjects they demonstrate they do not understand? The overflow is an act of God not man and the dam did fine for a century. It was not reasonable when it was built to expect the current outcome.

[@lagodifuoco313]

Yeah, only Biden is doing something about it. If it is up to tRump, the funds would be cut and to hell with infrastructure. Vote blue 💙

[@LeonardoHakaisha]

​@@CountryAndProudWell built as it's lasted just shy of a century, but poor maintenance and other dams failing also due to poor maintenance will now cost every citizen of Michigan either directly or indirectly. It's incompetence at the government level that has caused this.

[@CountryAndProud]

@@LeonardoHakaisha you clearly haven't paid a bit of attention to this story and why it happened so this is pointless. Enjoy your self created delusion.

[@thedarkslide]

The fun thing about this is: 1. Home insurance does not cover flooding damage. 2. Home insurance does not cover landslide damage. I hope they got everything out they want to keep. :(

[@nicotti]

They'll probably get a settlement from the owner of the dam.

[@akenjah]

Sad thing is your probably right about the flood insurance. Their house and business was next to the water. That would be sky high for insurance. I'm sure the city will take care of them if anything happens to their business. (I hope)

[@tallsaint2053]

@@lulud7540 Can you get flood insurance if you live on a river bank, next to a dam?...

[@Ryangillis45]

Depends where you live. Yes many people (like the family in the video) probably do have to get separate policies for events such as flooding, landslides, etc but it definitely varies quite a bit. Like in California you have to have a separate policy for to cover earthquake damage (for obvious reasons) but its covered under my primary insurance. I live in south mississippi so of course the risk of an earthquake is very low but since it was only an extra 8 dollars a month i was like sure why not? 🤣

[@thedarkslide]

@@lulud7540 Typically, that would be prohibitively expensive.

[@bettyvarone4420]

At least they got out and were able to save some things before it goes in the river, prayers for this family and all those who will loose everything.

[@squeakywright8743]

Bless your hearts. I wish you only the best!

[@SteveSmith-kd9if]

👆 ZOMBIE SYSTEM BOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mho...]

just the beginning.... decades of ignoring infrastructure maintainence for warmongering will catch up, sooner of later!

[@bobknull7502]

The dam seems to be holding. I would blame climate change and the added frequency of big weather events. But you still have a point about the $35,000 per second spent by the DOD.

[@JoeLinux2000]

Yep. Legitimate elections is America's greatest problem.

[@Bigfoothawk]

​@@bobknull7502 I'm sorry heavy rain fall and minor flooding is not climate change. Grow up

[@bobknull7502]

@@Bigfoothawk One of the many things seen with climate change is more frequent severe weather. If you think that this is minor flooding, You should go back to school. You can't even spell fell.

[@plmn93]

This wasn't ignored. It was in pretty good shape up until it was damaged by flooding 5 years ago. Options were on the table but a decision had not been made because the county was in a tough position. The obvious best solution was to take out the dam but it cost many more times the amount it would cost to upgrade it. But upgrades would have only kicked the can down the road for a dam that didn't serve much practical purpose anymore.

[@vaughnbraun]

Why wasn't the clog dealt with before the failure?

[@guntherabrahamowicz4659]

Safety.

[@BlueJazzBoyNZ]

The river found a path..! Not betting on the house But the Dam looks to be staying put

[@DARWINZOO]

And people were standing there hours ago. Wake up!

[@danstrayer111]

what does "wake up" mean...except for being the most over-used phrase on YT

[@DARWINZOO]

@@danstrayer111 they were so close to the edge. I've seen 2 people get hurt when a side suddenly gave way.

[@LiveFreeOrDie2A]

Pray for pies 🙏

[@Bob.W.]

If you only knew how the county treated this family over the years. Sad.

[@suesmith776]

I can believe it! Everything is corrupt! Soon and very soon, these corrupt people will be answering to God!

[@bobknull7502]

I would be interested in hearing that story.

[@go3484]

If the county had taken out the dam in 2022 when they knew it needed to go their house would still be safe. Maybe the county should pay for their house.

[@plmn93]

@@go3484 This family was very vocal about keeping the dam. And taking it out was projected to be a 10 year job costing $90 million. That kind of funding doesn't appear overnight.

[@go3484]

@@plmn93 thank you for explaining that.

[@mikefutrell4224]

🙏🏻 for that Dam family and all effected buy this disaster

[@melissahyland457]

Sending Love,Hope and the Best of All Wishes from Maine…💕

[@JennyWren333]

. So tragic for the family...hurts...

[@THORSLANDS]

Corp of engineers obsolete..

[@derekduncan900]

Save the pies!!!!!

[@therealdarthvader9936]

Now that’s a dam cliff hanger

[@DARWINZOO]

Now I understand why her house is there. It's right near her business.

[@drme66]

Wow. Frightening

[@Renville80]

Holy cow! That had to be some serious force in the water to crumple up that substation like a piece of scratch paper! (foreground right at appx 0:30)

[@victoriaallen8271]

Prayers

[@AhJodie]

What a cute place! The dam store! I love it! She is cute too! Water is powerful. I am surprised they can't open the dam????

[@johyuujin3079]

As I am retired civil engineer, with 30 years of drainage design experience. I am always stunned at the really stupid and wasteful ideas that people come up with, such as the super lame "levee" to protect 2 - 2 1/2 foot of flooding. there are many other ways to do that than truck loads of earth. this is about the last thing that should be done, just above sand bags, which have to be about the most wasteful idea ever.

[@KimberlyBosrtKim.Tink3r]

So sad same thing happened in 2011 in schoharie county Ny we feel for all ..... Prayers to all in flood zone........stay strong, be safe, and help each other out is the way to recover from disasters like these......

[@jaydee975]

It's been MUCH WORSE geological speaking...When the moraine was topped at the Traverse Gap at the end of the last ice age, all that water from Lake Agassiz roared down, deepened and widened the Minnesota River Valley. The result was what geologists called Glacial River Warren which COMPLETELY FILLED UP the young river valley with waters up to 250 feet deep and 5 miles wide in spots!!!!!!

[@oldphart-zc3jz]

Do not live downstream from dams, do not live in flood zone, do not live in range of storm surge and do not be too lazy to understand wise risk management when buying land. That is why I do not live in a flood plain or flood zone, live too far inland for storm surge (hurricanes are inevitable in many parts of the world but ya don't have to make your situation worse by living there), and do study reasonable risk management. You can use online flood zone maps and other resources to plan your life, for example buying flood insurance. If you insist on living downstream from a flooding hazard then insure your property appropriately. Self-education saves serious money.

[@ShutTheMuckUp]

Do not be like this clown who goes around telling people how to live.

[@Letsgo44444]

All these companies are sitting on 100 year old technology and yet no one upgrades their facilities. This happens too much..

[@plmn93]

The dam was kept up until it was damaged by flooding 5 years ago. Plans were presented but not decided on yet, nor would the work have been done in time anyway. And it is owned by the county.

[@carolmoline6490]

My beautiful Minnesota. I’m suppose to be there.

[@sjladuke75]

Unfortunately living close to water is no longer a viable option. Whether it's the ocean, rivers, tributaries or lakes, flooding isn't going away. The climate crisis isn't stopping & while Republicans continue to deny the existence of the growing emergency, weather phenomenon is proving otherwise. We're seeing strengthening storms, tornadoes, drought, wildfires- all of which are devastating the lives of Americans. When will Americans understand this isn't getting better? Denying science is deadly. Also- a reminder that in 2021 President Biden signed the Infrastructure Bill that the majority of Congressional Republicans voted AGAINST. Billions of dollars were allocated to the states to decide which projects needed prioritizing- bridges, roads, lead free pipes for clean potable drinking water, etc. The states are responsible for determining where the funding is most needed, which should bring significant jobs to the areas where they're needed.

[@lynadams2220]

The Blue Earth and the Minnesota River come together in Mankato Minnesota.

[@vanhelsing5396]

That's the city where Charles Ingalls lived, I guess, and how sad it is to know that the house you grew up in are about to go...I'm really sorry .

[@DarleneWallace-w4q]

Just heartbroken is river

[@larrrevenga49]

Was there a small hydro generating facility there I’m assuming that’s part of dam dam that failed ?

[@bobknull7502]

Yes. You can see the crumple substation.

[@nicotti]

There is and it wasn't. The spillways are partially clogged with flood debris. That, along with record rainfall, caused the water behind the dam to rise to the point that it was flowing over the top (can be seen happening on earlier vids) and over the side of the dam. Since the side is top soil over bedrock, it eroded out all the topsoil taking with it a road, substation, a metal building used by the electric company, a couple small sheds and a bunch of trees. This video doesn't show the powerhouse any, but other vids show it.

[@plmn93]

There was but it hasn't been in service since flood damage from 5 years ago. Enough to power about 3000 homes.

[@jeffreys.harris3433]

Why did it get clogged up in the first place?

[@TheAirheaded1]

Well that's a DAM sad story! Glad everybody is alright though, can always build buildings back.

[@Galfrid]

Bridges, dams, roads... Our aging infrastructure is in dire need of replacement but the government waits until something tragic happens before mobilizing and then absolves itself of blame. Sick. It's always Americans last.

[@Bugs11000]

People shouldn't live in flooding zones.

[@quifix1]

Nobody tried to pull those logs with a steel cable, they are blocking the water outlet and they were responsible for the situation

[@darrenedmonds1163]

Send the IAEA the bill

[@farmerted487]

Let's send more money to Ukraine.

[@ShutTheMuckUp]

Keep crying, Karen. That's all you're good for...

[@dannylo5875]

Can they move the home or buildings in one piece!?

[@righteousbyfaithinChrist]

I think everything people are holding on to is being removed in one form or fashion..

[@terriwilson4984]

So Heart Breaking ! God WILL INDEED TAKE CARE OF ALL OF YOU !

[@Me97202]

Uh…maybe your god could “take care” of people by preventing catastrophes in the first place? Just a thought, assuming he’s all powerful and everything.

[@crescentjones5612]

🙏 for “The Dam Store” & the generations of family morning the loss of their home ❤️‍🩹

[@WifeWantsAWizard]

Dams hold water back. We can all see the water bypassing the dam. Failure is no longer "imminent".

[@bobknull7502]

So the border walls failed..............got it.

[@favsa5015]

wow I lived along the blue earth river growing up crazy

[@BartMesser-n1c]

Family imigrated to Good Thunder from Germany in 1880s. Any word on Good Thunder? So scary.

[@kendavid4386]

A GOOD EXAMPLE OF NEVER BUILD NEAR OR ON THE WATER.

[@dr.emilschaffhausen4683]

Need an update today! Im betting its gone now.

[@heavencantwait1218]

I saw a video last night but can’t find it now , it did fall in

[@indigoluna8602]

Mother Earth will always take back what is hers. Sorry for those who have been affected.

[@19jody72]

That house is gone and doesn't even know it yet. Its a total loss at this point

[@heavencantwait1218]

I saw a video where it already fell in , why aren’t more news stations showing it ?

[@jakesmerth1919]

Pretty sure that dam has failed. Ain't no water staying back, just cuz it's goin round don't mean that dam ain't failed. Stop playing semantics.

[@ShutTheMuckUp]

The dam is the physical structure. It's still there and holding. It hasn't failed yet. The river bank is what failed. U dum boi.

[@bobknull7502]

WOW. I don't think that showing everyone how stupid you are is the flex that you think it is.

[@jrunna198]

So do the loose their land too ? Will they be compensated? How does that work? Do they own part of the river now ?

[@ShutTheMuckUp]

Can nobody get Rob a damn umbrelly?

[@phil4977]

That dam is being well managed-not. The poor home/store owner. They will need the dam authority to rebuild their home pronto and sort that dam out. Should not be happening in this day and age

[@frontlinecars20yroldfinds78]

Damn family!

[@AmericanFarmerHVAC2024]

Weather modification needs to be outlawed as of last night. This state is a failure for not having legislation already!

[@Onewayto2024]

What about the guy living in his van down by the river? Nobody worries about him!

[@bobknull7502]

He died in 1997.

[@emmap1159]

He could drive his home away from the flooding.

[@isabelreyes1056]

May God be with you and guide you🙏🙏🙏

[@trobertson1825]

That sucks

[@grkll]

Um, Why doesn't someone go in and remove the debris? It's not that much versus the possible destruction.

[@farmthestars3962]

Rivers move all the time , look at any major river system from 100 years ago till today, they can move many feet per year, although I am sad for them as a family, it is thier own decision to live that close.

[@juneyshu6197]

They do!

[@bobknull7502]

Go to google Earth. They weren't that close. They were about 300 feet from the river. Between them and the river WAS an electrical sub station, a larger building, a dirt road, two rows of large trees, and the river bank was reinforces with large rocks. You must be another Trump U grad. Do you have an advanced degree in ignoring climate change ?

[@farmthestars3962]

@@bobknull7502 Bob I'm not the one losing my house to a river. And just to educate you a little about flood plains, they extend hundreds of feet in either direction of a river system.

[@penguin44ca]

Bit of a cliffhanger if you ask me

[@zecharhiacsaszar3076]

This is only the beginning. All these dams were built around the same time, they werent meant to last this long, theyre way outdated, in the next 10 years this will be common

[@MN_ALGORITHMS]

We needed the rain though

[@leepittman4923]

Don’t buy a house close to any kind of water I guess they think it hasn’t flooded here in over 50 years guess what the 50 years is up

[@BobConnor-n2g]

Is this dam even necessary? Maybe better to just remove it once this is all over. I wonder if the house could be moved more inland if it does not fall in.

[@truefact4439]

Caused by farmers drain tile

[@jeffreysokal7264]

Their house is gone but it looks like their store will survive. Things are changing and living near water is no longer safe.