Monday, June 16, 2008
11:00 PM Update on Flooding in Iowa
I. AREAS OF CONCERN
*NEW* Davenport, Burlington, Keokuk
We continue to work to protect communities in the southeast corner of Iowa along the Missisippi.
The National Guard is working with local responders and volunteers to increase the height of levees to protect infrastructure along the Missippi River in Davenport, Burlington, Keokuk.
The river is forecasted to crest at 25.6 feet in Burlington Tuesday evening, compared to the previous record level of 25.1 feet. It is forecasted to crest in Keokuk Wednesday afternoon at 28.3 feet, compared to the record level of 27.6 feet.
Both of these towns have taken steps to improve their levees to protect their communities since the floods of 1993.
Iowa City
Flood waters have crested in Iowa City.
Members of the Coast Guard Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) transported waste water treatment employees to the facility, and assisted transporting employees to the animal care facility in Iowa City.
Local officials have ordered mandatory evacuations for several areas of Iowa City with more than 200 homes affected.
350 National Guard soldiers are currently deployed in Iowa City and local officials continue to work to protect critical structures within the area, including filling and delivering sandbags.
Montrose
Voluntary Evacuations have been ordered for areas north and south of Montrose, as well as the Sandusky Area, in Lee County.
Burlington
500 National Guard soldiers are currently deployed to Burlington.
Sandbagging operations continue around the Burlington Power Plant.
Keokuk
Flood preparations are continuing for the city, which is expected to see record flooding on the Mississippi River.
500 National Guard soldiers have been deployed to the area to help in preparation efforts.
Columbus Junction/Fredonia
The river has crested in Columbus Junction.
Residents of Fredonia are expected to be able to return at 8 a.m. Monday. Water from Tyson Foods is available to residents in Columbus Junction and Columbus City, but under a boil order.
Des Moines
750 National Guard soldiers are currently deployed in Des Moines.
Evacuation orders have been lifted for non-threatened areas of the city.
A levee breach in Des Moines’ Birdland Park Neighborhood resulted in the evacuation of more than 200 homes.
North High School is flooded.
Reported numbers in shelters by American Red Cross: Harding Middle School, 40 people; Callanan School, 5 people
Coralville
Flood waters have crested in Coralville.
Members of the Coast Guard Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) assisted with getting recreational boats and three people out of the water in Coralville.
Ottuwma
Army Corps of Engineers will slow the Red Rock release rate from 115,000 CFS to 100,000 CFS. This change means that the water will stay at the 21.3 for 12 - 14 days.
Ottumwa will continue to build up the berm around the water treatment facility. Sandbagging efforts are going smoothly.
Oskaloosa
Officials continue to monitor the levees around the water treatment plant.
The river will continue to fall to a stage of 23.5 feet by Monday morning.
Oakville
Des Moines County Emergency Management reported a levee break at Oakville in southeastern Louisa County. The area south in Louisa County and into Des Moines County to Oquawka was projected to be inundated within 3 hours.
Local officials have ordered a mandatory evacuation for the community.
Cedar Rapids
There is still a mandatory evacuation order in effect for parts of Cedar Rapids, which affects more than 20,000 people.
Concerns still remain for Cedar Rapids water treatment plant. The city has increased its water capacity to 50% of full, but city officials are continuing to asking people not to take showers or wash laundry, and to conserve water however they can.
II. FATALITIES
One new fatality, 35-year-old male found in Louisa County in flood waters. Seventeen storm-related deaths since the tornado of May 25.
III. DECLARATIONS
Counties covered under Governor Culver’s Disaster Proclamation: 83 counties. Adair, Adams, Allamakee, Appanoose, Audubon, Benton, Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clarke, Clayton, Crawford, Clinton, Dallas, Delaware, Dubuque, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Fremont, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Howard, Humboldt, Henry, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Jefferson, Keokuk, Kossuth, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lucas, Marion, Marshall, Mitchell, Monona, Montgomery, Muscatine, Mahaska, Madison, Mills, Monroe, Page, Polk, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Scott, Story, Shelby, Tama, Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Webster, Winneshiek, Worth, Wright, Washington, Wayne, and Winnebago.
The Governor's proclamation activates Iowa's individual disaster assistance program. Iowa’s individual disaster assistance program helps people with low incomes. Iowans with household incomes of up to 130 percent of federal poverty guidelines may apply for a grant of up to $3,300 to help recover from flood damage. The governor emphasized that this is a reimbursement program, meaning that applicants must include receipts when applying for help.
Counties declared presidential disasters for Individual Assistance: 24 counties. Adams, Cedar, Jones, Louisa, Muscatine, Polk, Winneshiek, Benton, Bremer, Black Hawk, Butler, Buchanan, Cerro Gordo, Delaware, Fayette, Floyd, Hardin, Johnson, Linn, Marion, Page, Story, Tama and Union. Individual Assistance allows homeowners, renters, business owners and non-profit organizations to recover from the effects of severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that began May 25 and continues.
Individual Assistance allows homeowners, renters, business owners and non-profit organizations to recover from the effects of severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that began May 25 and continues.
Counties declared presidential disasters for Public Assistance: 15 counties. Black Hawk, Boone, Buchanan, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Crawford, Dallas, Delaware, Dubuque, Floyd, Franklin, Marion, Story, Tama and Union. Public Assistance funds pay 75 percent of the approved cost of debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities. A series of applicant briefings will be held for local officials to explain the application process. (15)
Public Assistance funds pay 75 percent of the approved cost of debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities. A series of applicant briefings will be held for local officials to explain the application process. Black Hawk, Buchanan, Butler and Delaware were previously included on the declaration for Public Assistance.
IV. STATE RESOURCES DEPLOYED
More than 2500 Iowa National Guard
200 Iowa State Patrol
1,000 Iowa Department of Transportation Employees
Sandbags: More than 4.8 million
Pumps: 114
Gallons of water distributed: 180,930
V. ROAD CLOSURES
Interstate 80 in Cedar County opened at 4:00 p.m. June 16. Interstate 380 from exit 4 to exit 10 in Johnson County is scheduled to open Tuesday at 6:00 a.m.
The Iowa DOT's temporary customer service phone line will be in operation from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily until further notice. That number is 866-452-8510. This number was set up for assisting travelers navigate state roadway closings. It is not an emergency number. Emergency calls should be made to 911. This phone line is extremely busy, so if you get a busy signal please call back.
For the latest in road closures, please visit the Iowa Department of Transportations website at: www.511ia.org
V. SHELTERS
SHELTER SUMMARY
American Red Cross Open Shelters:
Benton County
- Iowa Braille School, 1002 G Avenue Vinton, IA 52349; 10 occupants
Black Hawk County - UNI West Gym, University Ave & Campus St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613; 34 occupants
Bremer County - Wartburg College, 222 9th ST NW, Waverly, IA 50677; 39 occupants
Johnson County - Johnson County Fairgrounds, 4265 Oak Crest Hill Rd SE Iowa City, IA 52240; 41 occupants
- Northwest Jr High School, 1507 8th Street, Coralville, Iowa 52241; 43 occupants
Linn County - Viola Gibson Elm. School, 6101 Gibson Dr. NE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404; 83 occupants
- Prairie High School, 401 76th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 62404; 135 occupants
Louisa County - Louisa/Muscatine School, 14353 170th St, Letts, Iowa 52754; 23 occupants
Page County - Old Armory, 423 West Thomas, Shenandoah, Iowa 51601; 0 occupants
Polk County - Callanan Middle School, 3010 Center Street Des Moines, IA 50312; 23 occupants
Wapello County - Ottumwa High School, 501 E 2nd St, Ottumwa, IA 52501; 0 occupants
16 shelters are in standby mode throughout the State
VI. IMPORTANT NOTICES
Stay out of flood affected areas unless you have been told to be there. Emergency Management Officials need clear access to these areas, and unless you need to be there, stay away.
Evacuate Means Evacuate. If you are directed by local officials to evacuate, leave the area immediately. The situation remains dangerous, and to help protect the lives of Iowans, please leave if you are told to do so.
Be wary of unscrupulous practices. Disasters bring out the best in people, and can sometimes bring out the worst. Reports are sporadic at this time, but have indicated that Iowans affected by flood waters have been scammed by people posing as contractors or emergency personnel. Remember:
- Never pay for goods or services in advance
- Never give out your social security number
- Always ask for identification
VII. VOLUNTEER
Iowans interested in volunteering or donating are encouraged to contact the Iowa Concerns Hotline at: 800.447.1985.
WARNING: Please stay out of areas affected by flooding unless you are directed to be there. Emergency personnel need free access to these areas, and onlookers affect emergency operations.
VIII. KEY NUMBERS/WEBSITE
To call for updated shelter information, call 1-800-GET-INFO (438-4636)
211 (regional call center to help people with human services)
Iowa Concern Hotline 1-800-447-1985 for volunteers and donations
Road Closures Hotline 1-866-452-8510 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily or 24 hours at www.511ia.org.
To apply for federal assistance, contact FEMA at www.fema.gov.
For current weather forecasts and flood statements, visit http://www.weather.gov
X. PREVIOUS BRIEFINGS
Previous briefings are available on the new website - www.flood2008.iowa.gov.
XI. SCHEDULE FOR TOMORROW
Public events will be announced as made available.