More than 40 people (click here) were evacuated from a riverside restaurant near St. Cloud on Saturday night after a flash flood along the Sauk River — a flood apparently caused by an ice jam, one of many along Minnesota waterways in the past couple weeks.
The St. Cloud Times reported several fire departments used boats to evacuate diners from Anton's Restaurant in Waite Park after the flooding started at about 7:30 p.m.
A co-owner of the restaurant told KNSI radio that within a half-hour, there was a foot of water in the building.
Fire officials told KNSI that an ice jam along the river broke up later in the evening, and the water level started to fall...
Tonight at 7:28 we experienced a flash flood at Anton’s. The ice went out on the Sauk River in full force. It was so powerful that the river couldn’t contain the force and pushed its way over the banks in to the parking lot and restaurant. On a Saturday night with a full house, the water swept through every room. Thank you to our customers for your patience, understanding and sense of humor. We have NEVER experienced anything like this before. Yes, we’ve flooded but there has been forewarning and time to prepare. Thank you to our Waite Park Fire Department & Rescue and Waite Park Police Department!
We will keep you posted on our progress and we’ll be open again as soon as possible!
We will keep you posted on our progress and we’ll be open again as soon as possible!
