Chickasaw County confirms one death after flood

It wasn’t the ending law enforcement and rescue personnel wanted as the body of a man whose car was swept off a county road near Protivin was recovered Wednesday afternoon.

The body of Leonard Got, 77, of Sumner was recovered by Chickasaw County personnel on Wednesday.

Chickasaw County Emergency Management Director Ken Rasing said Got was on his way to work in Cresco and was northbound on Chickasaw County Road V56 about two miles south of Protivin when his car was swept off the road by floodwaters at around 4:40 a.m.
“It was obviously still dark, and I’m sure he didn’t have any idea that there was that much water on the road,” Rasing said. “It’s a really tough deal, and our hearts go out to his family.”
Offiicals found the man’s car in the ditch just east of V-56 and Rasing said the man’s body was recovered about a quarter of a mile downstream.
Numerous fire departments and law enforcement agencies from Chickasaw and Howard counties, along with the Chickasaw County Rescue Squad and the Chickasaw Ambulance Service responded to the scene.
“We worked really well together, and the training and partnerships we have helped us a lot,” Rasing said. “I’m proud of our people who responded; I just wish we would have had a better outcome.”

The death occurred after a night of torrential rainfall in and around Chickasaw County.

Although the National Weather Service reported 3.71 inches of rain had fallen on New Hampton, the northern parts of the county east of U.S. Highway 63 received between 6 and 7 inches of rain as thunderstorms battered the area between 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Numerous roads were covered with water, and that led school officials in New Hampton to call off classes Wednesday.

New Hampton had a number of streets closed late Tuesday night because of flooding and numerous homes and businesses reported dealing with flooded basements. By Wednesday, though, the focus shifted to the northern part of the county, where officials said it could be days before some roads will reopen.

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