HENDERSON, Minn — The Minnesota River has a way of changing people's plans, especially the people who live in this historic river city 50 miles southwest of the Twin Cities.
Minnesota Highway 19 heading east out of Henderson is closed by flooding. Mayor Keith Swenson said crews would be installing floodgates across the road on Saturday, to keep flood waters from breaking through the levee and encroaching on the downtown business district.
"We dodged a bullet last week, but then it started raining again. And suddenly it got more serious and more serious. And then on Wednesday and Thursday it became obvious that Highway 19 was going to go under water."
That road closure leaves just one way to get in and out of this town of 967 people.
Minnesota Highway 93 heading south out of town is closed for a construction project to guard against flooding on the Rush River, which joins the Minnesota River just south of the city. It was so plagued by flooding in the past, state lawmakers stepped in with funding for a fix.
They also paid for a flood-proofing project on Sibley County Road 6 heading north from town, and that's also closed for construction.
"The point is to raise the roadbed up seven to eight feet in order to stay above the flood waters," Mayor Swenson explained.
"So, when these projects are done in two to two and a half years we won't have to worry about the in-and-out any longer. It's academic at this point because if those roads weren't closed for construction they'd be closed by flooding right now."
That leaves the other section of Minnesota Highway, the one that heads west out of town, as the only way in or out of Henderson for the time being. It's on higher ground and is relatively safe from river water.
"It does add about a half-hour detour for everyone, compared to how it is when Highway 19 is open to the east."
Swenson, who grew up here and has served as mayor for 26 out of the past 40 years, is taking it in stride.
"For those of us who've gone for this, we're very confident we've got the system down. We've got the stuff in place. Won't worry about it. I sleep like a baby. I don't think there's ever going to be a problem," Swenson explained.
"But if you've just moved to town, and suddenly they've blocked the roads off and there's a huge flood going, you might tend to get a little bit nervous."
As of Saturday morning, the forecast called for the Minnesota River to crest at 739.5 feet in Henderson on Tuesday, just shy of the all-time record of 740.1 feet.
Despite the in-and-out challenges, the mayor says as long as downtown stays dry all of the normal summertime events that draw people here are still happening.
That includes the Tuesday night classic car roll-ins and Sauerkraut Days, set for next weekend.
"We are river rats. We are resilient. We've been through this before and we'll get through it!"
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