Press release from the Office of Iowa Governor Chet Culver
DES MOINES – The Governor’s Office will continue to issue daily flood updates with information compiled from various agencies as the situation warrants.
“I was impressed with the resolve and determination I saw in residents of Ottumwa and Eddyville yesterday who are battling flood waters and their after-effects,” Governor Culver said Thursday. “The Presidential Disaster Declaration will be a significant help to Iowans in the 35 affected counties, but I would caution residents to carefully document losses and expenses relating to flooding beginning right now, to prepare for eventual claims for assistance.”
Here is a snapshot of today’s flooding and severe weather situation across Iowa:
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE:
24 counties in Iowa are under Flood Warnings for river flooding, down from 28 yesterday. Those counties are:
Buchanan
Buena Vista
Cedar
Clay
Clinton
Des Moines
Emmet
Fremont
Henry
Humboldt
Iowa
Johnson
Jones
Keokuk
Lee
Linn
Louisa
Mahaska
Muscatine
Polk
Scott
Van Buren
Wapello
Washington
No heavy rain fell across Iowa today (Thursday), and heavy rains from July 7th (Wednesday) were fairly localized and did not have a major affect on flooding of Iowa’s rivers. The Wapsipinicon River was pushed to major flood stage at Independence, but it has begun to recede. Major flooding is possible at Anamosa on Saturday. Otherwise, the rains will slow the fall, or cause minor rises on rivers already in flood over the southeast quarter of the state. Other than the Wapsipinicon, none were pushed to a higher flood stage however.
A welcome break in the rainfall, along with lower humidity that will promote drying, is forecast for all of Iowa tonight through Saturday. Another frontal system will affect Iowa some time on Sunday and Monday. Thunderstorms are likely to occur during that two day period, and locally heavy rainfall appears possible. Location of the rainfall, and the degree of a severe weather threat, are still to be determined. At this time it looks like the weather system will keep progressing eastward, which would limit the chances of a widespread impact on Iowa’s rivers.
Contact: Jeffrey Zogg, Senior Hydrologist, 515-270-4501 x493.
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES:
Calls to the DHS toll-free help line are starting to grow, now averaging about 10 a day (31 calls from Tuesday through 3 p.m. Thursday.) The fastest way to get an application with directions is to visit the “Storm Help” link on the front page of the DHS web site (dhs.iowa.gov), but the help center will mail applications as well. Once the completed application is received by the DHS, payments on approved applications will be swift. It will take several weeks for most approved applications to arrive because original receipts for repairs or expenses must be attached, and because the applications must first go to local disaster officials.
The department is managing the state’s low income disaster grant program. The grant is a maximum $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of federal poverty. This is a reimbursement program. Original receipts are required. Grants cover damage in specified categories that are not covered by insurance, charity, or other government programs. Grant applications and step-by-step instructions are available on the “Storm Help” tab on the front page of the DHS website (dhs.state.gov). Applications must be received within 45 days of the governor’s declaration. A toll-free help line 1 (877) 937-3663 is being answered by the DHS customer call center in Council Bluffs.
Reminder: The following 31 counties are already under state disaster proclamations:
Buena Vista, Butler, Clay, Davis, Emmet, Hamilton, Howard, Humboldt, Jefferson, Kossuth, Lee, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Van Buren, Webster, Cherokee, Decatur, Franklin, Hancock, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Polk, Ringgold, Sioux, Taylor, Union, Wapello, Warren, and Wrigh
The disaster proclamations allow state resources to be deployed to affected counties and authorize the implementation of the State Individual Assistance Grant Program to assist eligible residents of affected counties. The state monitors the needs of families after a storm or flooding occurs and then issues the disaster proclamation on an as-needed basis. The Governor urges people impacted by recent flooding to contact their county emergency management coordinators to report damages so the state is aware of the needs of each county.
The department is managing the Disaster Behavioral Health Response Service. Three counties (Cherokee, Osceola, Wright) have asked for assistance. Trained volunteers and/or DHS staff are helping with door-to-door outreach in hard-hit areas, providing information and doing rumor control. For people who may need mental health counseling, they are sharing the Iowa Concerns Hotline number (800) 447-1985, which operates 24/7 from the ISU extension service. For more information, see http://www.iowadbhrt.org/
In addition, the department is assisting Homeland Security in providing damage assessments.
Contact Roger Munns, Public Information Officer, (515) 281-4848 or (515) 559-7326
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION:
Water-covered roadways
Iowans are urged to closely monitor changing conditions, especially in the counties where flash flood watches or flood warnings have been issued. Never enter a water-covered roadway. Flood waters can force a vehicle off the roadway. It is also not uncommon for roadways and shoulders to be damaged when flooded, presenting unsafe conditions for motorists. In addition to the state highway closures listed below, many county roads and city streets are flooded throughout Iowa.
- U.S. 61/U.S. 136 in Lee County – The combined highway route is closed at the Iowa/Missouri border near Keokuk, Iowa. From the south, the route is closed at Alexandria in Clark County, Mo. A detour is in place. Traffic normally going across the Des Moines River Bridge near Keokuk is being directed to the Des Moines River Bridge at St. Francisville, Mo.
- Iowa 2 in Fremont County - The eastbound lane is closed near the Interstate 29 interchange, approximately 12 miles west of the Sidney.
- Iowa 5 in Warren County – Water is over the roadway between Warren County roads S-23 and S-31 at the Des Moines River crossing southeast of Hartford. The westbound lanes are closed. The eastbound roadway is reduced to one lane. A detour is in place.
Multiuse trails closed
A number of trails are closed throughout the state. Trail users are advised to avoid trails or trail segments prone to flooding, especially those that parallel rivers and streams, or that are located in low-lying areas
Contact Dena Gray-Fisher, 515-239-1922 or dena.grayfisher@dot.iowa.gov.
HELPFUL LINKS
The Iowa Department of Public Health has a web page dedicated to health information related to flooding at www.idph.state.ia.us/EmergencyResponse/Flooding.aspx.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has information about state park closures at https://eservices.iowa.gov/iowaparks/index.php?pgname=closings.
The Iowa Department of Transportation has current updates on Iowa road conditions and detour information at www.511ia.org or call 511.
The Iowa Department of Transportation also has flood safety tips and other helpful information for travelers are available at: http://iowadot.gov/floods/index.html.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKTVO