Publication Date June 24, 2014 | New York Times

Vast Stretches of Minnesota Are Flooded as Swollen Rivers Overflow

United States
The rising Mississippi River covered a playground and closed roads on Tuesday in St. Paul. Photo: Jim Mone, Associated Press
The rising Mississippi River covered a playground and closed roads on Tuesday in St. Paul. Photo: Jim Mone, Associated Press

Minnesota was besieged on Tuesday by some of its most widespread flooding in years. Water spilled onto streets in downtown St. Paul, crops of soybeans and corn were damaged and a state of emergency was declared in 35 counties. “This is severe flooding, and in many different locations in the state, which I haven’t seen before,” Gov. Mark Dayton said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. “I’ve seen severe weather — tornadoes, flash floods and ice storms — but usually they impact one area of the state. This one is the whole state"