Wild Rivers Water Park

Flood watchers flock to river

It might be called disas-tourism, that irresistible curiosity to witness firsthand the devastating power of nature.

Tourism is an overstatement, but there certainly have been lots of lookie-loos heading to the banks of the swollen Missouri River to take in the spectacle.

They flock to Omaha's riverfront, causing minor traffic jams, staring in awe at all the water, while serious city workmen tend pumps like the storied Dutch boy with his finger in the dike.

To get a bird's-eye view, Bryan Weaver, 21, and buddies Alex Clark, 18, and Rachel Miller, 20, of Council Bluffs drove to the Lewis and Clark Monument on an Iowa bluff 275 feet above the river channel.

“A lot of people have been talking about it, and I wanted to see it for myself,” Weaver said. “It's insane.”

From this wooded point, where turkey vultures patrol the treetops, the scope of the flood is clear. Freed from its rip-rap shackles, the Mighty Mo runs where it pleases, stalking Omaha's Eppley Airfield, blocking Interstate 29 and turning distant farm fields into shimmering wetlands.

One wonders if a wild scene like this met the eyes of 19th century explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, whose confab with local Indians is depicted in relief in the monument's concrete panels.

“It's a historic flood,” said Ann Cottone, 34, wearing a Grateful Dead T-shirt as she visited the monument with her daughter, Rachel, 15.

“We'll probably not see it ever again in my lifetime,” she said, adding “Let's hope not.”

From up here, the passenger jets lifting off from runways at Eppley Airfield look like toys. Down at Omaha's riverfront, meanwhile, you can smell the water and watch it rush by — but police say stay out.

The river and any connecting waters are closed to the public, said Omaha Police Lt. Darci Tierney.

“There have been times when people have walked beyond the barricades and gotten a little closer than they should have, but they are risking arrest by doing that,” Tierney said.

There's a lot of information online, including aerial photos, making it a good, safe way to see the flood, she said.

Crowds at Omaha's riverfront have caused traffic problems, particularly a parking crunch close to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, Tierney said.

“If you park at Rick's Boatyard in order to get over to the pedestrian bridge, you can't because Riverfront Drive is closed,” Tierney said. “So traffic has been an issue around there.

How to get a free Wild Rivers water park ticket - OC Deals - The ...

The tickets are available while supplies last. If you want one of these, I wouldn’t wait.

You have to go to the guest services valet desk to buy the gift cards, which is located outdoors by JT Schmidts restaurant and the valet parking area off Tustin Ranch Rd. Guest services hours are 4-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 4-midnight Friday, noon through midnight Saturday.

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