PORTAGE DES SIOUX, Mo. — Weary Business owners pray Mother Nature has a change of heart. They’re disappointed after hearing the “Rat Run and Rally” is canceled.
For weeks now, scores of folks had been preparing for the 2019 Rat Run and Rally in Portage Des Sioux.
Moms, dads and kids couldn’t wait to see the cool bikers and eat all kinds of tasty food.
But now the 40th annual event is washed out because of flooding.
“It’s my biggest event of the year. You know the floods, they just keep coming,” said Andy Dallwitz, the owner of the Longshot Saloon.
Dallwitz is just one of many business owners along the river who are frustrated.
For the last 12 years, Dallwitz, his wife and their employees have enjoyed hosting the popular rally for the Rat Run. Some 12,000 people were expected to attend the huge biker event that’s now a bust due to the rising Mississippi River.
“It’s so sad because none of the employees or vendors will get a chance to make any money. It hurts a lot of people. It’s a big loss. Big loss,” said Dallwitz.
Earlier this summer, floodwaters hit many St. Charles County homes and businesses extremely hard.
Months later, today, people are still raising their homes and still trying to recover from the flooding.
“I think it’s getting worse,” said Dallwitz.
“Losing the Rat Run this year is very disheartening for all of us, “ said Dallwitz’s wife, Rebekah.
In June, rising floodwaters prevented Rebekah Dallwitz from opening her new beauty salon.
Two nights ago, the relentless Mississippi River spilled its banks again and flooded the parking lot of the couple’s saloon.
Now, more rain is expected this weekend.
The river’s still rising and the flood-weary couple, who plans to remodel their business by next spring, have had enough.
“Really upsetting, but what are you gonna do? There’s water coming,” said Rebekah Dallwitz.
“This is a rough time for everyone here. It’s just bad, but we are strong people. We will spend all winter long rebuilding our property and remodeling the saloon," said Andy Dallwitz. "We plan to reopen in April, 2020 and also hopefully next year’s Rat Run and Rally will be back with no flooding problems."