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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 24 June 2024
Millions swelter as temperatures soar across the U.S., while deadly

floodwaters inundate the Midwest

By The Associated Press do the very best to pro- on Saturday, with more
Millions of Americans tect infrastructure, homes high temperatures expect-
sweated through yet an- and families as we possibly ed again Sunday.
other scorching day as can.” Lamont Cousins, who owns
temperatures soared Sun- Emergency management the Ampersea restaurant
day across the U.S., while officials in the small South on Baltimore’s waterfront,
deadly floodwaters inun- Dakota community of Da- said business had been
dated parts of the Midwest, kota Dunes on Sunday is- slow this weekend. The 40
including a town in Iowa sued a voluntary evacu- outdoor dining seats at the
whose own water-level ation order for the area’s restaurant, usually packed
gauge was submerged. roughly 4,000 residents. this time of year, were
From the mid-Atlantic to Dakota Dunes is near the empty until around dinner-
Maine, across the Great Nebraska and Iowa bor- time Saturday.
Lakes region, and through- A South Dakota Highway Patrol Officer keeps watch over a ders and is sandwiched “I think it’s affected us be-
out the West to California, flooded bridge that was underwater after days of heavy rain led between the Missouri and cause people are staying
public officials cautioned to flooding in the area, near Lake Alvin, S.D., Saturday, June 22, Big Sioux rivers, both of home scared,” he said.
residents about the dan- 2024. which are expected to On Saturday, when he
gers of excessive heat and Associated Press crest in the coming days. went to put umbrellas on
humidity. In Oklahoma, 1953. more than 7 inches (17.7 Emergency management the tables, it was already
the heat index — what the “When the flood gauge centimeters) of rain in three in Dakota Dunes warned over 90 degrees. But Cous-
temperature feels like to is underwater, it’s really days. At least one person residents that a mandatory ins said he’s not too wor-
the human body — was high,” Tigges said in a news died in the floods, Noem evacuation could come ried about the lost business
expected to reach 107 de- conference organized by said Sunday, without pro- quickly if flood barriers are – and he expected Sunday
grees (41 degrees Celsius) Spencer officials. viding details. breached. would be better.
on Sunday. Gov. Kim Reynolds de- Several rivers, including the But elsewhere, the heat “Yesterday, it was nobody
In the Midwest where South clared a disaster for 21 Big Sioux, James and Ver- was the biggest worry. walking around. It’s hotter
Dakota, Iowa and Min- counties in northern Iowa, million, were expected to “It’s more important for today, but there’s a breeze
nesota meet, floodwaters including Sioux County. peak sometime Monday people who are going to going. Yesterday, it just felt
rose through the weekend. In drone video posted by through Wednesday night, be outside to stay hydrat- like I was being punished,”
In northwest Iowa, 13 riv- the local sheriff, no streets the governor said at a news ed, because heat, humid- Cousins said.
ers flooded the area, said were visible, just roofs and conference. ity and low winds, even if Last year the U.S. experi-
Eric Tigges of Clay County treetops poking above the “I want to remind every- you’re in good shape and enced the most heat waves
emergency management. water. body to remember the not really acclimated to it, since 1936, experts said. An
Entire neighborhoods — In South Dakota, Gov. Kristi power of water and the it could be a danger, “ said AP analysis of data from the
and at least one entire Noem declared an emer- flow of water, and to stay Bruce Thoren, a National Centers for Disease Control
town — were evacuated, gency after severe flood- away from flooded areas,” Weather Service meteorol- and Prevention found that
and the town of Spencer ing in the southeastern part Noem said. She added ogist in Oklahoma. “It hap- excessive heat contributed
imposed a curfew Sunday of the state bordering Ne- that “we’ve got a few days pens quickly.” to more than 2,300 deaths,
for the second night in a braska. Several highways in front of us here that’ll be The cities of Washington, the highest in 45 years of
row after flooding that sur- were closed. Sioux Falls, a little rough, but we’ll get D.C., Baltimore and Phila- records.q
passed the record set in the state’s largest city, had through it together and delphia all saw record heat

FBI seeks suspects in 2 New Mexico wildfires that killed 2 people,

damaged hundreds of buildings

RUIDOSO, N.M. (AP) — Full- cause of the fires discov- square kilometers) was now
time residents of Ruidoso ered June 17 near the vil- 7% contained.
will be allowed to return to lage of Ruidoso. Both fires had been at zero
their village Monday morn- But the notice also pointed- containment Friday. Full
ing as federal authorities ly suggested human hands containment isn’t expect-
seek to prosecute whoever were to blame, saying the ed until July 15, according
started a pair of New Mex- reward was for information to fire officials.
ico wildfires that killed two leading to the arrest and More than 1,100 firefight-
people and destroyed or conviction of “the person ers continued to fight the
damaged more than 1,400 or persons responsible for flames in steep and rocky
structures. starting the fires. terrain Sunday.
The FBI said it is offering a Lincoln County Manager The remains of a business destroyed by the South Fork Fire are The South Fork and Salt
reward of up to $10,000 for Randall Camp said at a pictured in the mountain village of Ruidoso, N.M., Saturday, fires are still burning on
information leading to the news conference Saturday June 22, 2024. Associated Press both sides of Ruidoso and
arrests and convictions of that “we are approaching a threat of flash floods still
those responsible for the a thousand homes lost” in covery efforts including The National Interagency looms over the village.
South Fork Fire and Salt Fire the fires. temporary housing, low- Fire Center said the South Authorities said downed
in southern New Mexico, President Joe Biden issued cost loans to cover unin- Fork Fire, which reached power lines, damaged wa-
which forced thousands to a disaster declaration for sured property and other 26 square miles (67 square ter, sewer and gas lines plus
flee. parts of southern New Mex- emergency work in Lincoln kilometers), was 31% con- flooding in burn scars con-
The federal agency also ico on Thursday. The move County and on lands be- tained Sunday. It said the tinued to pose risks to fire-
said it was seeking public freed up funding and more longing to the Mescalero Salt Fire that has spread fighters and the public.q
assistance in identifying the resources to help with re- Apache Tribe. over 12 square miles (31