Rapidan Dam Faces Imminent Failure Amid Historic Flooding in Minnesota

Authorities monitor structural integrity and potential downstream impacts as floodwaters surge around the 114-year-old dam.

The Blue Earth River's heavy flow has caused a partial failure of the dam's west abutment.
Local officials have issued warnings but no mass evacuations have been ordered yet.
Power outages affected approximately 600 households after an Xcel Energy substation was destroyed.
Residents and businesses near the dam, including a historic café, face significant risks.
Emergency management teams and federal agencies are assessing the damage and monitoring the situation closely.