Tuesday, July 26, 2011
MISSOURI RIVER 2011 FLOODING UPDATE - Tuesday July 26, 2011
South Dakota may appeal Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) rejection of request for Individual Assistance programs to help residents impacted by record Missouri River flooding
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV)
July 26, 2011
It looks like folks cleaning up from flooding in South Dakota won't be getting any individual help from FEMA. State officials got the news that their request was denied. But they're still trying to find assistance.
Sump pump hoses are the summer yard ornament of necessity in Dakota Dunes.
"It's not the pleasant summer we had expected. It's been a lot of work, a lot of stress," said Kenny Kast. And a lot of money.
Kast has paid for pumps, removal and then reinstallation of basement appliances, and $500 to live at a campground.
"Right now, we've probably got, I would guess $2,000, $2,500 invested," said Kast.
He's expecting several thousand more by the time it's all over with, but Kenny knows many people have it much worse.
"We thought it warranted a request," said Kristi Turman, director of the Office of Emergency Management in the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
A request to FEMA for individual assistance, that's been denied.
So now, it's on to "Plan B," which could include appealing FEMA's decision.
"Haven't made a decision yet, but we're looking at our options," said Turman.
If it does appeal, the state will need to give FEMA more information to prove it needs the help. South Dakota is also looking to non-profit agencies.
"We have a lot of voluntary agencies that can reach back to their national organizations for manpower, material and also donations," said Turman.
Those fighting the flood every day know a lot of people need a lot of help. They just hope the state can find it, one way or another.
"They're gonna lose their homes, they're gonna lose everything if they don't get help from FEMA," said Kast.
If approved, the FEMA assistance would provide up to $30,000 to each homeowner, though the state says the most a South Dakotan has ever received is about $10,000.
The state has 30 days to appeal.
http://www.ktiv.com/story/15145379/south-dakota-may-appe
It looks like folks cleaning up from flooding in South Dakota won't be getting any individual help from FEMA. State officials got the news that their request was denied. But they're still trying to find assistance.
Sump pump hoses are the summer yard ornament of necessity in Dakota Dunes.
"It's not the pleasant summer we had expected. It's been a lot of work, a lot of stress," said Kenny Kast. And a lot of money.
Kast has paid for pumps, removal and then reinstallation of basement appliances, and $500 to live at a campground.
"Right now, we've probably got, I would guess $2,000, $2,500 invested," said Kast.
He's expecting several thousand more by the time it's all over with, but Kenny knows many people have it much worse.
"We thought it warranted a request," said Kristi Turman, director of the Office of Emergency Management in the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
A request to FEMA for individual assistance, that's been denied.
So now, it's on to "Plan B," which could include appealing FEMA's decision.
"Haven't made a decision yet, but we're looking at our options," said Turman.
If it does appeal, the state will need to give FEMA more information to prove it needs the help. South Dakota is also looking to non-profit agencies.
"We have a lot of voluntary agencies that can reach back to their national organizations for manpower, material and also donations," said Turman.
Those fighting the flood every day know a lot of people need a lot of help. They just hope the state can find it, one way or another.
"They're gonna lose their homes, they're gonna lose everything if they don't get help from FEMA," said Kast.
If approved, the FEMA assistance would provide up to $30,000 to each homeowner, though the state says the most a South Dakotan has ever received is about $10,000.
The state has 30 days to appeal.
http://www.ktiv.com/story/15145379/south-dakota-may-appe
Corps of Engineers ready to reveal Missouri River Basin Dams long-term water release plans
Tuesday, July 26, 2011 12:04 AM CDT
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will reveal this week its strategy for moving flood water during the next two months.
The move was announced during Monday’s media briefing by Jody Farhat, chief of the Missouri River Basin water management office in Omaha, Neb.
“On Friday, we plan an announcement for the reservoirs. That will include further releases for each dam,” she said. “We will extend that forecast and also talk about releases through the month of August and September.”
The Corps has felt the need to maintain gradual drawdowns throughout the mainstem dam system, Farhat said.
“The reservoirs are falling nicely, but there’s still a very large volume of water to get rid of this year,” she said. “When that (water evacuation) plan comes out later this week, folks will have a good indication of how we will do that.”
In the meantime, the Corps is proceeding with its previously announced drawdown at Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, which currently runs at 160,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), Farhat said.
“We are cutting Gavins Point to 155,000 cfs on Saturday and Sunday and to 150,000 cfs on Monday,” she said.
Fort Randall Dam near Pickstown has seen its releases increased in recent days from 156,000 cfs to 157,000 cfs and eventually to the current 159,000 cfs, Farhat said.
Fort Randall’s gradual increase has produced results, she said, with the reservoir falling 3/10 to 4/10 foot per day.
The Corps has seen progress throughout the mainstem dams, as the elevations are dropping, Farhat said.
• Fort Peck, Mont., releases stood at 35,000 cfs on Monday, and the reservoir is falling a half-foot a day.
• Garrison, N.D., was reduced Monday morning from 120,000 cfs to 115,000 cfs. The reservoir is falling 1/10 to 2/10 foot per day.
• Oahe and Big Bend releases remain at 140,000 cfs, with Oahe’s reservoir falling 1/10 foot per day.
The National Weather Service forecast for southeast South Dakota calls for a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms from Tuesday night through Thursday night, then a 20 percent chance on Friday night.
The forecast calls for temperatures in the low 90s Tuesday and Wednesday before falling to the mid-80s Thursday and Friday.
While the focus remains on a flood fight, South Dakota officials are gearing up for clean-up and other flood recovery action.
During last week’s visit to Yankton, Gov. Dennis Daugaard said the state needs to prepare for what awaits after the floodwaters recede and the Missouri River returns to its banks.
South Dakota has been subjected to long-term stress, with flooding expected to last four months, the governor said.
“This is a very unusual kind of flood disaster,” he said.
State agencies and county emergency managers need to pool resources in the ensuing clean-up, Daugaard said. The state will see not only flood-related damage but also need to clean up sandbags and levees, he said.
Some of the lessons learned at Pierre and Fort Pierre can be applied to other areas of the state, he said.
Daugaard also hopes that public entities receive some federal assistance before the flooding ends, so money stands available as the clean-up and other recovery efforts begin.
During Monday’s media briefing, Col. Bob Ruch, commander of the Corps’ Omaha District, said he and Daugaard recently discussed recovery needs.
State officials asked the Corps to continue advising them on water flows so that recovery decisions can be made and so local property owners are advised accordingly, Ruch said.
During Monday’s briefing, the Corps was asked about new information showing they should have acted sooner in anticipation of flooding.
Ruch responded that Farhat provides monthly reports, and the system remained in good condition for anticipated run-off. The problem came in May when upstream areas received record rainfall, with 5 to 8 inches at one time.
“That caused the system to lose its flexibility,” Ruch said. “Nobody could see that amount of rain coming into the (upstream) in a two-state area.”
Both Ruch and Farhat maintain the mainstem dams have been operated this year for flood control and evacuating water, not for other purposes such as endangered species and recreation.
In response to a Press & Dakotan question, Ruch said the ban remains for watercraft below Gavins Point Dam.
When asked about a boat seen Saturday in the vicinity of Riverside Park, Ruch said the craft may have been the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducting measurements and evaluations for the Corps.
Meanwhile, Daugaard received word Friday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has rejected South Dakota’s request for Individual Assistance programs to help residents impacted by record flooding.
The denial of Individual Assistance came in a letter from FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, who said damage to homes and businesses fell short of the severity and magnitude to warrant federal assistance.
South Dakota has received a presidential disaster declaration because of flood damage to public infrastructure in 37 counties. The state asked for a similar declaration to bring federal help to individuals in 11 counties hardest hit by flooding in 2011, including Charles Mix, Clay, Union and Yankton counties.
Daugaard called the denial very disappointing but said South Dakotans will continue to work together to help individuals and communities recover over the coming weeks and months.
“South Dakotans are a resilient, self-reliant people,” the governor said. “We responded to the flooding together. We will recover together.”
In that respect, efforts will continue to tap whatever resources are available, Daugaard said.
“We will seek every possible source of help, including state and local government resources and all the resources the private and non-profit voluntary groups can offer,” the governor said. “We are disappointed, but we are not disheartened.’’
The move was announced during Monday’s media briefing by Jody Farhat, chief of the Missouri River Basin water management office in Omaha, Neb.
“On Friday, we plan an announcement for the reservoirs. That will include further releases for each dam,” she said. “We will extend that forecast and also talk about releases through the month of August and September.”
The Corps has felt the need to maintain gradual drawdowns throughout the mainstem dam system, Farhat said.
“The reservoirs are falling nicely, but there’s still a very large volume of water to get rid of this year,” she said. “When that (water evacuation) plan comes out later this week, folks will have a good indication of how we will do that.”
In the meantime, the Corps is proceeding with its previously announced drawdown at Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, which currently runs at 160,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), Farhat said.
“We are cutting Gavins Point to 155,000 cfs on Saturday and Sunday and to 150,000 cfs on Monday,” she said.
Fort Randall Dam near Pickstown has seen its releases increased in recent days from 156,000 cfs to 157,000 cfs and eventually to the current 159,000 cfs, Farhat said.
Fort Randall’s gradual increase has produced results, she said, with the reservoir falling 3/10 to 4/10 foot per day.
The Corps has seen progress throughout the mainstem dams, as the elevations are dropping, Farhat said.
• Fort Peck, Mont., releases stood at 35,000 cfs on Monday, and the reservoir is falling a half-foot a day.
• Garrison, N.D., was reduced Monday morning from 120,000 cfs to 115,000 cfs. The reservoir is falling 1/10 to 2/10 foot per day.
• Oahe and Big Bend releases remain at 140,000 cfs, with Oahe’s reservoir falling 1/10 foot per day.
The National Weather Service forecast for southeast South Dakota calls for a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms from Tuesday night through Thursday night, then a 20 percent chance on Friday night.
The forecast calls for temperatures in the low 90s Tuesday and Wednesday before falling to the mid-80s Thursday and Friday.
While the focus remains on a flood fight, South Dakota officials are gearing up for clean-up and other flood recovery action.
During last week’s visit to Yankton, Gov. Dennis Daugaard said the state needs to prepare for what awaits after the floodwaters recede and the Missouri River returns to its banks.
South Dakota has been subjected to long-term stress, with flooding expected to last four months, the governor said.
“This is a very unusual kind of flood disaster,” he said.
State agencies and county emergency managers need to pool resources in the ensuing clean-up, Daugaard said. The state will see not only flood-related damage but also need to clean up sandbags and levees, he said.
Some of the lessons learned at Pierre and Fort Pierre can be applied to other areas of the state, he said.
Daugaard also hopes that public entities receive some federal assistance before the flooding ends, so money stands available as the clean-up and other recovery efforts begin.
During Monday’s media briefing, Col. Bob Ruch, commander of the Corps’ Omaha District, said he and Daugaard recently discussed recovery needs.
State officials asked the Corps to continue advising them on water flows so that recovery decisions can be made and so local property owners are advised accordingly, Ruch said.
During Monday’s briefing, the Corps was asked about new information showing they should have acted sooner in anticipation of flooding.
Ruch responded that Farhat provides monthly reports, and the system remained in good condition for anticipated run-off. The problem came in May when upstream areas received record rainfall, with 5 to 8 inches at one time.
“That caused the system to lose its flexibility,” Ruch said. “Nobody could see that amount of rain coming into the (upstream) in a two-state area.”
Both Ruch and Farhat maintain the mainstem dams have been operated this year for flood control and evacuating water, not for other purposes such as endangered species and recreation.
In response to a Press & Dakotan question, Ruch said the ban remains for watercraft below Gavins Point Dam.
When asked about a boat seen Saturday in the vicinity of Riverside Park, Ruch said the craft may have been the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducting measurements and evaluations for the Corps.
Meanwhile, Daugaard received word Friday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has rejected South Dakota’s request for Individual Assistance programs to help residents impacted by record flooding.
The denial of Individual Assistance came in a letter from FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, who said damage to homes and businesses fell short of the severity and magnitude to warrant federal assistance.
South Dakota has received a presidential disaster declaration because of flood damage to public infrastructure in 37 counties. The state asked for a similar declaration to bring federal help to individuals in 11 counties hardest hit by flooding in 2011, including Charles Mix, Clay, Union and Yankton counties.
Daugaard called the denial very disappointing but said South Dakotans will continue to work together to help individuals and communities recover over the coming weeks and months.
“South Dakotans are a resilient, self-reliant people,” the governor said. “We responded to the flooding together. We will recover together.”
In that respect, efforts will continue to tap whatever resources are available, Daugaard said.
“We will seek every possible source of help, including state and local government resources and all the resources the private and non-profit voluntary groups can offer,” the governor said. “We are disappointed, but we are not disheartened.’’
Omaha.com | Latest on the Missouri River Flooding - July 26, 2011
Barge traffic: After years of drought, barge operators along the Missouri River got more rain this year than they had hoped for. The industry had grown optimistic when rising river levels appeared to promise an increase in barge traffic this year. The Missouri Department of Transportation even projected a 15 percent to 20 percent increase.
But flooding along the 675-mile stretch from Sioux City, Iowa, to St. Louis has prompted the Coast Guard to close the river between Gavins Point Dam in South Dakota and Glasgow, Mo. John LaRandeau, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' navigation manager, said he expects flooding to cause one of the worst years of shipping in the river's history.
http://www.yankton.net/articles/2011/07/26/community/doc4e2e3be8d0a5c032083541.txt
But flooding along the 675-mile stretch from Sioux City, Iowa, to St. Louis has prompted the Coast Guard to close the river between Gavins Point Dam in South Dakota and Glasgow, Mo. John LaRandeau, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' navigation manager, said he expects flooding to cause one of the worst years of shipping in the river's history.
http://www.yankton.net/articles/2011/07/26/community/doc4e2e3be8d0a5c032083541.txt
Nebraska's Public versus Privately Owned Power Companies enables a break in electricity costs
All the companies that provide electricity in Nebraska are publicly owned, which makes them eligible for federal emergency public assistance grants after disasters strike. Private for-profit power companies such as MidAmerican Energy in Iowa are not.
That simple difference has boosted the dollar amounts coming into Nebraska in federal disaster assistance — and, by extension, has kept the cost of electricity here lower than it would have been.
READ MORE:
http://www.omaha.com/article/20110726/NEWS01/707269903#in-floods-public-power-pays-off
RadiationNetwork.com
Updated in real time every minute. This is the first web site where the average citizen (or anyone in the world) can see what radiation levels are anywhere in the USA at any time
Missouri River Dams and River Levels Flood Map
US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS RELEASES NEW FORECAST SCHEDULE OF RELEASE - 6 MAINSTEM MISSOURI BASIN DAMS
Updated Daily
NOAA Hydrologic - Water Level at Gavins Point Dam, near Ft. Calhoun and Cooper Nuclear Plants
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/river.php?wfo=abr&wfoid=18696&riverid=203276&view=1%2C1%2C1%2C1%2C1%2C1%2C1%2C1&toggles=10%2C7%2C8%2C2%2C9%2C15%2C6&pt[]=145640&pt[]=142853&pt[]=144098&pt[]=144183&pt[]=142396&pt[]=143355&allpoints=143990%2C145585%2C145025%2C145026%2C144876%2C145027%2C143234%2C143184%2C145519%2C145640%2C144217%2C142150%2C142780%2C142853%2C145202%2C141586%2C144582%2C143543%2C144796%2C144098%2C144240%2C141320%2C141614%2C142968%2C144183%2C142574%2C143478%2C142193%2C142760%2C142003%2C142610%2C142396%2C144496%2C147345%2C141899%2C143355%2C142050%2C141570%2C144165%2C143476%2C141703%2C142023%2C144123%2C141863%2C143539%2C143436%2C141917%2C143009%2C142688%2C142640%2C143925%2C143734%2C142729%2C143790%2C142668%2C141962%2C142132&data[]=hydrograph&submit=Make+my+River+Page!
FT. PECK DAM - MONTANA
GARRISON DAM - NORTH DAKOTA
FT RANDALL DAM - NEAR CHAMBERLAIN SD
GAVINS POINT DAM - NEAR YANKTON SD
GARRISON DAM - NORTH DAKOTA
FT RANDALL DAM - NEAR CHAMBERLAIN SD
GAVINS POINT DAM - NEAR YANKTON SD
RESERVOIR CONTROL CENTER REPORTS
The following is the latest Reservoir Readings on the Upper Missouri River. This report is updated daily. Click on the picture for today's readings in reference to Gavins Point Dam, Ft. Randall Dam in SD, Big Bend Dam in SD, Oahe Dam in SD, Garrison Dam in ND and Fort Peck in Mt.
Link to daily report:
http://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/reports/showrep.cgi?3MRDTAP7Link to daily report:
The Cave's Archive: NW DIVISION OF THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS RESERVOIR CONTROL CENTER DAILY REPORT
Link: THE CAVE'S OVERFLOW - Archive of the Cave's Daily Flood of 2011 Updates
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