(Radio Iowa) — Key state officials say Iowans who aren’t in a flood zone today should prepare for flooding. State Climatologist Justin Glisansays 2018 was the second-wettest year on ecord and the ground is saturated — creating concerns as the snow in the Dakotas and Minnesota melts and drains south. “If we get into a regime with active precipitation patterns, we could be in a very bad position,” Glisan says.

Glisan says forecast models indicate there will be “above average precipitation” in the weeks ahead. The 147 years of weather records for Iowa show the atmosphere and surface temperatures are warming and that means it’s more likely to rain, according to Glisan. “What we’re seeing over the past 30 years is that the intensity of precipitation events is increasing and we’re also seeing them lock into specific parts of the Midwest and even over Iowa,” Glisan says. “…You’re getting rainfall rates in which infrastructure can’t keep up.”

Glisan cites last summer’s flash flooding in central Iowa caused when as much as eight inches of rain fell in three hours. Joyce Flinn, director of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, says community leaders should consider how to protect key infrastructure, like drinking water plants, from flooding. “We’re focused on the Missouri River right now, but there are a lot of the interior rivers that are high as well and there’s the potential for flooding on the Mississippi, so we are reaching out to those folks,” Flinn says. “Mnay of them are taking those proactive measures because when you lose a water system, that’s hard to recover from quickly.”

Flood waters have swamped three southwest Iowa communities in the past week. Flinn and Glisan made their comments Friday, during a taping of the “Iowa Press” program.

Police in Red Oak arrested a man following a traffic stop at around 1:05-a.m. today (Sunday). 37-year old Darin James Vanatta, of Emerson, was taken into custody for OWI/2nd offense, Driving While Revoked, and no SR-22 insurance. Vanatta was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report 31-year old Joshua Arthur Rhodes, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Saturday night, for Violation of a Protection Order, and Providing False Information. Rhodes was taken into custody at around 9:25-p.m. and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held without bond.

A traffic stop at around 11-p.m. Saturday in Adams County resulted in the arrest of two people from Rapid City, SD. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling 108-mph.  The K9 “Baxo” was deployed and gave a positive indication for narcotics. After further investigation, 28-year old Taryn Thomas was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS)/Methamphetamine, Open Container, Speeding, Child Endangerment, Failure to secure a child, and Carrying Weapons.

A passenger in the vehicle, 32-year old Sina Crowe, was arrested for PCS/Meth, Open Container, and Child Endangerment. At the Adams County Jail, Jail staff located a small baggy of marijuana Crowe had concealed on her person. She was subsequently charged with Bringing contraband into a jail facility.

A little more than one week before patrons of the Atlantic Community School District will determine the fate of a $9.5-million bond referendum for facilities’ improvements, the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will meet Monday evening in a work session at the High School.

During their session, the Board will discuss the 2019-2020 Certified Budget, and upcoming dates of note, including: the April 2nd Special Election/General Obligation Bond; April regular board meeting/public hearing (To be determined); and the IASB Policy Leadership & Legal Issues Conference on April 18th.

The Atlantic Board of Education meeting begins 5:30-p.m. Monday (March 25th), in the High School Media Center.