Iowa Governor Seeks Disaster Declaration after Flash Flooding
July 10, 2010
Governor Chet Culver asked President Obama to declare thirty-five counties in Iowa federal disaster areas after severe flash flooding ravaged portions of the state. Storms moved through the state earlier this week and dumped a great deal of rain which caused rivers to overflow their banks, many communities in Iowa saw some degree of flooding damages.
Over twelve inches of rain flooded the post office in Dewar which forced the mail service to moved to the nearby Gilbertville P.O. Governor Culver is requesting that eighteen counties get individual assistance and that thirty-two to receive public aide. The Waterloo area saw the worst of the damage as six inches of rain fell, flooding basements,local streets and roadways. In Cedar Terrace, many residents were sandbagging their homes with the hopes of keeping flood waters at bay.
The 2010 spring and summer rains have cost the state of Iowa a large amount of money. De Moines officials report that the cost of fighting this year’s floods is $1 million. Half of that was spent to shore up levees, build temporary levees and to fix sewer systems. The other half of the money went towards labor. Des Moines has been on alert for more than seven days as the rain swollen Des Moines River threatened a levee protecting a neighborhood near the downtown area in the beginning of July. Officials are beginning to breathe a bit easier however as the river levels are dropping, allowing them to put an end to around the clock levee inspections.
Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed over the central portion of the state earlier this week as they moved up toward the northeast. Due to the nearly six inches of rain that fell, flash flood warnings were put into effect in numerous cities and towns. Flash flood warnings remained in effect for several days for many Iowa counties located in the eastern part of the state.
A flood warning was issued by the National Weather Service for the Little Sioux River at Linn Grove. Residents were asked to take precautionary measures and preparedness action. Locals are being asked not to drive their vehicles through flooded areas as the water depth and road conditions may be hazardous. The flood warning is extended until 7 pm on Saturday July 10th so anyone living in the area should prepare their homes by moving valuables up to a higher level in the house and sandbagging foundations.
