Des Moines evacuates residents amid severe flash flooding
PUBLISHED Jul 3, 2026, 2:10 PM ET
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Des Moines, Iowa, authorities evacuated more than 100 people from apartment buildings and a hospice facility on Friday, July 3, 2026, after torrential rainfall across the Upper Midwest caused rapid flooding along Fourmile Creek. The fast-rising creek overflowed its banks, inundating nearby streets, disrupting holiday weekend plans and threatening low-lying structures on the city’s east side. According to a City of Des Moines spokesperson, the evacuations focused on residential complexes situated along East Douglas Avenue, where buildings sit close to Fourmile Creek and Sargent Park. Emergency responders moved through the affected neighborhoods, going door-to-door to alert residents to the rising floodwaters and the risk that their apartments could be inundated if conditions worsened. Officials described the effort as a proactive safety measure, noting that the evacuations were voluntary but strongly encouraged due to the speed and severity of the flash flooding. Most residents accepted the offer to leave, gathering essential belongings and relocating to temporary shelters or staying with friends and relatives elsewhere in the city. Some residents chose to remain in their homes, leading emergency services to maintain continuous monitoring of the area in case water levels rose further. The Taylor House Hospice, which sits adjacent to the creek, posed particular challenges, as staff coordinated with paramedics and transport teams to relocate medically fragile patients to other medical centers and sister hospice locations around the Des Moines metropolitan area as a precautionary step.
By Lauren Mitchell | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- Early July 2026, Upper Midwest sees torrential rainfall
- July 3, 2026, Fourmile Creek levels rise rapidly
- July 3, 2026, Des Moines streets become inundated
- July 3, 2026, evacuations begin along East Douglas
- July 3, 2026, over 100 residents leave apartments
- July 3, 2026, Taylor House Hospice patients transferred
- July 3, 2026, some residents decline voluntary evacuation
- Later July 3, 2026, officials continue area flood monitoring
News Intelligence
- Flash floods can happen rapidly, disrupting plans and threatening homes. If you live near water bodies, be aware of your local evacuation procedures. Keep an emergency kit ready. It's about safety and preparedness.
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