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Dear Friends:
High Missouri River levels will continue to work its way downstream from South Dakota. The James , Vermillion, Big Sioux and Little Sioux Rivers have crested and will be falling over the next few days. As the crest moves downstream, flooding is expected from Sioux City to Hermann on the Missouri River. With rainfall continuing to be in the forecasts at various times and locations in South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri the river is primed for flooding. Stay alert to changing river conditions. Crest forecast from the National Weather Service include the rain predictions for the next 24 hours.
Kansas City District
The Kansas City District has technical teams working at multiple locations. Flood fighting teams are on the ground in Holt County.The district has not had any request for direct assistance. Currently, no levees are forecasted to overtop within the KC District. In Holt County the following Non-Federal levees are expected to have 1.5' of freeboard: Corning, Union Township. Holt County #9 , Holt County #10 and Cannon are expected to have 2'-5' of freeboard. These estimates are subject to changed. Downstream less loading is expected on levees.
All the levees in the Kansas City District have been repaired following the 2019 Flood Event and are ready to perform as designed.
The Kansas City District has 3.7 Million Sandbags placed at various locations throughout the district. The District is prepared to provide technical and Direct Assistance to levee sponsors upon request and has supplies available.
Releases from Kansas Reservoirs have been reduce to minimum flows to aid with flooding on the Missouri River. There have been no changes in releases from Truman Dam.
Omaha District
The Omaha District has nine surveillance teams in the field working with levee sponsors.Colonel Robert Newbauer has been in the field also meeting with levee sponsors. The District has let 2 contracts to aid with flood activities. The first, is for a reconnaissance helicopter to help monitor the flood and the second is to increase the freeboard on levees L550 and L556. These levees are still under repair from the 2019 flood event and the contract will provide for sandbagging to raise low sections of the levees. This work has begun.
The Omaha District is working with State and federal agencies in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. It has flood fighting resources available including large and small sandbags, pumps and technical advisors.
Emergency Declarations
Governor Kristi Noem, South Dakota and Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa have both signed Emergency Declarations and have requested Presidential Emergency Declarations to aid with the flooding in their states.
From Governor Reynolds Office:
Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa, announced Monday that President Biden has approved Iowa’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred beginning on June 16, 2024 and continuing.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are now authorized to provide assistance to Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth, and Sioux Counties. The Governor will continue to request additional counties as more information is collected.
Residents in these counties can now apply for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program, which provides disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses with programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses, and legal services.
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362. The helpline operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. Other options include registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov
or downloading the FEMA app.
Homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofit organizations whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster, may be able to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. In addition, small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, and private, nonprofit organizations impacted by the severe weather may be eligible to apply for working capital loans.
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information, and download applications at www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.
Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program is no longer available in counties where the FEMA Individual Assistance Program has been made available and residents should apply for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program.
In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Program has been activated for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, and Sioux Counties. The Public Assistance Program provides funding for emergency work, such as debris removal and emergency protective measures.
There has been no word from the President on the federal disaster disaster request from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
Weather
The National Weather Service (NWS) reports flooding will occur from Sioux City to Hermann along the Missouri River. ¼" of light rain is forecasted across South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa Wednesday -Thursday. Southern Iowa is forecasted to receive an additional ¾" Thursday-Friday. ¼" is forecasted across Friday -Saturday.
The National Weather Service looked at potential rainfall over the next 7 days. If all the the forecasted rainfall materializes it could potentially add 1' to 1.5' to forecasted river crest. It will be important to keep monitoring rainfall and river levels in your area.
Be Prepared
Flooding is expected from Sioux City to Hermann with Moderate flooding above Kansas City and Minor flooding below Kansas City. With rain still in the forecast, river forecasts may change. Now is the time to inspect floodgates, levees and other flood control infrastructure. We have not seen the River this high in some time. Stay weather aware and monitor changing conditions. Most importantly stay safe!
Levees with damage should be reported to the USACE as soon as possible.
The Omaha District Emergency Operations Center (EOC) can be reached at (402) 995-2448.
The Omaha Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is at Level II Partial Activation. Hours of operation are 7:00am to 7:00pm. You may call after hours and leave a message which will be returned.
The Kansas City District EOC can be reached at (816) 426-6320.
The Kansas City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is at Level III. Hours of operation are 7:00am to 5:00pm. You may call after hours and leave a message which will be returned.
Remember you can find much more information at our website by clicking here: molevees.org
Sincerely,
Tom Waters, Chairman
Missouri Levee & Drainage District Association
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