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PRESS RELEASE FROM THE CITY OF OTTUMWA

The City of Ottumwa is making preparations for a potential high water event on the Des Moines River.   Ottumwa is protected by a levee system designed to withstand river stages up to 25 feet. City officials are at a state of high vigilance and maintaining daily contact with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.  

Ottumwa’s Director of Public Works, Larry Seals said, “As is always the case during higher river stages our public works and public safety crews are prepared to protect the city from the potential of flooding. 

The greatest threat to the community is inland flooding, which occurs when heavy rain overwhelms the drainage capacity behind the levee. All of our storm pump stations have been tested this week and are ready to go.”  

The City has refurbished two of the main stormwater pump stations since the flooding in 2008. The Mary Street Pump Station has been completely updated with a new building, pumps and engines.  The Walnut Street Pump Station has a new engine.  Along the levee in Ottumwa, City crews have cycled all the flood gates and serviced all the flap gates to ensure they are in good working order. The City has an adequate inventory of sandbags on hand if needed.   

Seals added, “We take this threat seriously and are taking steps to ensure our people and equipment are ready if higher water comes. City operations are not seriously affected until the river reaches 15 feet, but a lot of things are happening, precautionary steps and planning that the public may not see or notice, to make sure we are ready.”