MASON CITY – A flash flood hit Mason City Saturday as heavy rains fell in a short amount of time.
Persons traveling by car under the South Federal underpass at the 900 block became trapped in their cars. Water reached several feet deep in a short amount of time as rain water rushed to that spot before going into sewers.
Mason City’s Blake Cooper told NIT that he “rescued three young boys this morning” were under the railroad bridge.
At the same time, a very dangerous situation developed at the Wal-Mart store on the city’s west edge.
Fire Chief Bob Platts said that 8:18 AM Saturday morning, the Mason City Fire Department was dispatched to a roof collapse at the Mason City Wal-Mart Shopping Center, 4151 4th Street SW in Mason City. While in route dispatched notified the department that there was a strong odor of natural gas and that Alliant Energy had been notified. On arrival they found an employee was trapped inside a semi-trailer and confirmed the gas leak and shut off the gas to the building. The air was monitored and the employee was assisted out of the area. The roof collapse was in the southeast area of the building where the loading dock is located. Fire department made sure that the building was secured for electrical, gas and sprinkler systems.
Chief Platts said the incident occurred during a period of extremely heavy rain in the Mason City area and an investigation is underway. The building will be closed to anyone until a structural engineer is able to assess the building and the department is continuing to work with the local Wal Mart management. The department left the scene at 11:53 a.m.
