Waterville Under Water Following Widespread Flooding

A state of emergency was extended in 35 Minnesota counties on June 24, as swollen rivers broke their banks and flood waters continued to rise to the highest levels seen in years. Governor Mark Dayton said that he expected Minnesota to qualify for federal disaster assistance in the wake of the widespread flooding, which has triggered mudslides, washed out roads and destroyed crops.

“The scale of it is overwhelming,” Dayton said on Tuesday.

This aerial footage, filmed from a drone, captures flooding in Waterville, MN, which was largely underwater on June 24. According to local news reports, the town’s 1,800 residents have been sandbagging around the clock in an attempt to stave off the rising Cannon River. Credit: YouTube/Jon Smithers