Choppers called in: Another 24 Nebraska Army National Guard soldiers were being called to state active duty to support Omaha and Douglas County emergency management efforts. The guard said Friday it has put a Black Hawk helicopter crew, support staff and 10 guard riggers at Omaha's Eppley Airfield to conduct aerial sandbagging operations if needed on the Missouri River. The guard also put two Kiowa helicopters and crews at Eppley to allow emergency officials to conduct aerial surveillance of levees.
Canvassing: Council Bluffs officials and Iowa Department of Human Services employees are knocking on about 6,000 doors in the western portion of the city Saturday to warn residents about potential flood dangers. As many as 100 workers hoped to get the job done by 6 p.m., said Art Hill, Council Bluffs' finance director. Volunteers will canvass neighborhoods to ensure that citizens have the latest information regarding planning and preparation for any possible evacuation, Hill said. The canvassing will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. “No alerts or new evacuation orders have been issued,” Hill said. “This information is being distributed to assist persons to prepare a plan in the event of an actual alert.” The Iowa Department of Human Services said it has found that about 50 percent of households visited by crisis counseling teams were unaware there was flooding or potential for flooding in their areas.
More water: Based on the current weather forecast, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will increase releases from Oahe and Big Bend Dams. Both dams will raise releases from 150,000 cubic feet per second to 155,000 cfs on Saturday and then to 160,000 cfs on Sunday. “We are transferring flood storage from Oahe and Big Bend to Fort Randall, which has more storage available at this time,” said Jody Farhat, chief of water management for the corps. Releases at Fort Randall and Gavins Point Dam will remain at 150,000 cfs. Flows from the Fort Peck and Garrison Dams will remain the same, based on the current forecast, at 65,000 cfs and 150,000 cfs, respectively.
More boating restrictions: The Coast Guard on Friday night closed an additional 100 miles of the Missouri River to all boat traffic. The Coast Guard said the river is now closed to all vessels from mile marker 450 near St. Joseph, Mo., to mile marker 811 near Gavins Point Dam in Yankton, S.D.
Update immunizations: The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that adults update their tetanus immunization every 10 years. Exposure to floodwaters does not increase the risk of tetanus. However, severe wounds or deep cuts need to be examined by a health care provider to see if a booster is necessary, the CDC said.
Avoid floodwater: The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is cautioning people to stay out of floodwaters. Aside from bacteria, the water can contain fertilizers, manure from feedlot runoff, sewage, gas and other fuels. People working in floodwaters should wear tall watertight boots and rubber or leather gloves for protection, the agency said.
Drinking water's fine: The Metropolitan Utilities District said Friday that its three drinking water treatment plants continue to operate normally. Although no flood impact is expected, MUD officials said they have taken precautions by installing sandbags around a low-service pump station and intakes. If the Florence Water Treatment Plant, served by the Missouri River, were forced to close, the district's other two water treatment plants have the capacity to serve the metropolitan area, MUD said.
Review urged: Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said a congressional review of how the Corps of Engineers has managed the flooding Missouri River is appropriate. “I think we ought to give a serious review,” Grassley said, adding that he doesn't want to offer any personal judgment of the corps' action at this time. The senator was touring flooded areas in southwestern Iowa on Friday.
Vilsack followup: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he has “conveyed very strongly” to leaders of the Corps of Engineers that they must do a better job of communicating their Missouri River management plans and decisions to farmers vulnerable to flooding. Vilsack said he discussed concerns raised by farmers who met with him Thursday in Glenwood, Iowa, and Friday in South Sioux City, Neb., with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Corps of Engineers commanders, Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Craig Fugate and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad.
Farmland affected: The Iowa Corn Promotion Board issued a statement calling for better Missouri River flood plans in the future. “The Iowa Corn Growers Association has had a long-term concern about the outdated infrastructure along both the Missouri and Mississippi River systems,” said Dean Taylor, association president. “Right now we should all focus on how we can help those along the Missouri River fight the floodwaters, but after the waters recede, updating the river and dam systems needs to be a priority to avoid future flooding.” The Iowa Farm Bureau estimates nearly 150,000 acres of farmland, capable of producing millions of bushels of grain, have been affected by floodwaters.
Fawn rescued: The Nebraska Humane Society said it reunited a doe and her fawn trapped by floodwaters along John J. Pershing Drive near Omaha's water treatment plant. Animal Control Officers Gabe Newell and Amanda Rutledge removed the fawn from a fenced-in area and returned it to its mom on dry land.
Temporary housing: The City of Blair has drafted a waiver for Blair residents to allow flood victims to temporarily live in trailers or recreational vehicles on their property. By completing the waiver, residents cannot charge rent, and flood victims cannot stay past the date the city lifts its state of emergency. The city expects about five families to fill out and return the waiver. It can be downloaded at blairnebraska.org.
YMCA helps: The Blair YMCA is offering free 90-day memberships to people displaced by the flood. The free YMCA pass is intended for people who have temporarily moved into cramped living spaces, like dorm rooms and campers, said Sandra Ellis, executive director. On Friday, the Blair YMCA delivered 15 free passes to families living in Holling Hall, a dorm on the former Dana College campus.
Long-term housing: The Iowa Finance Authority has created a rental housing guide for flood victims seeking long-term housing in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. The guide is available at www.iowahomelandsecurity.org/disasters/disaster2011.html. Click on “Housing Resources.”
Paddlefish season: The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has closed the 2011 archery paddlefish season from Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, S.D., to the mouth of the Big Sioux River near Sioux City. The season was supposed to run July 9 through Aug. 7. The commission said it will make refunds to all 275 permit holders.
Fair moving: The Harrison County Fair board and county extension officials have moved the 2011 county fair from the fairgrounds in Missouri Valley to the Four-County Fairgrounds in Dunlap because of flood concerns. The event is scheduled July 19-24. “It was a decision we felt was necessary to make quickly so that 4-Hers, citizens, and the volunteers involved could plan ahead. There are enough current uncertainties with the flood situation. We want one less issue hanging undecided for the Harrison County community,” Fair Board President John Straight said.
Iowa highways reopened: Interstate 680 from milepost 21 (near Beebeetown) to Interstate 29, and I-29 from milepost 71 (near Loveland) to mile post 75 (Missouri Valley). A major effort to place sandbags and barrier walls along the highways and to use pumps to divert some of the floodwaters has allowed the interchange to reopen. Both directions of traffic are being allowed through the area.
Ramp closed: The Interstate 29 southbound exit ramp (exit 20) to Fremont County Road J-24 near Thurman is closed.
THE RUMOR MILL
Rumor: Because the Army Corps of Engineers decided to release the water creating this flood, it will be classified as a “man-made” disaster.
Fact: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack assured farmers at an Iowa meeting this week that wasn't the case and said crop insurance would cover their losses. “Without hesitation, we do not see this as a man-made situation,” Vilsack said. “This is Mother Nature not treating us quite well. Please leave assured we will provide crop insurance protection.”
— World-Herald staff writers Emily Nohr, Maggie O'Brien and Leslie Reed, with the World-Herald News Service and the Associated Press.
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The Missouri River reaches chest high on the bronze statues at Lewis and Clark Landing.
Hamburg, Iowa-area farms under water:
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