Flooding swamps Duluth, drowns zoo animals

[sinkingfeeling]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47889559/ns/weather/

Several animals at the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth, Minn., drowned overnight when torrential rain caused flooding across the city, swamping roads and sending sewage spilling outside overflow tanks.

"We have 11 confirmed dead animals, most of them barnyard animals," zoo marketing director Holly Henry told msnbc.com. "Two thirds of the zoo is under water."

All but one of the zoo's barnyard animals died, zoo spokeswoman Keely Johnson said in a statement. That included the zoo's donkey, goats and sheep.

"There are certainly reports of streets being washed out, but the more significant problems are as the water comes over the ridge and starts rushing down the hill, overwhelming our storm systems, overwhelming our culvert system and creating that forward momentum of rushing water," Ness said. "That's where the most significant problems are being felt."




Looks like pretty extensive damage.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. That's so sad about the zoo animals.

A seal also swam off in the flood and was discovered on a nearby street (and was returned to the zoo). If you've ever been to Duluth you can imagine what a disaster this was - most of the city is built on a steep, rocky ridge along Lake Superior, and there are a number of creeks and a larger river, the St. Louis River, that flow down the hills into the lake. The unusually heavy rainfall filled up the creeks, the river and the storm sewers, and made a huge mess of most of the city. They haven't had flooding like this in decades, if ever.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Oh, that is really sad news...

I hate to hear about creatures drowning.

Such a scary way to die...

[Worried senior]

3. That is so sad

I always hate to read about animals suffering thru these natural disasters. They can't get away.

[kickysnana]

4. They had 9 inches.News pictures look like the hurricane or tsuanmi damage.

Duluth is one big steep hill running down to lake Superior.

On edit: Sorry cannot seem to get a photo to upload.