Friday, June 13, 2008
Governor Culver And Lt. Governor Patty Judge Update Flooding Situation
Public Safety Commissioner Gene Meyer urges Iowans to stay off the road
(Johnston)- Governor Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge, Iowa’s Homeland Security Advisor to the Governor updated the statewide flooding situation from the State Emergency Operations Center at the Joint Forces Headquarters in Johnston, Iowa.
Today, Iowa officials learned that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has granted a Presidential Disaster Declaration for 6 additional counties for individual assistance, and 11 additional counties for public assistance.
“This has been a very trying week for our state,” said Governor Culver. "Responding to a crisis like this takes the cooperation of everyone, from the federal government down to the local communities. I want to thank FEMA for approving this Presidential Disaster Request, and look forward to working with them as our state recovers from this challenging time."
"We are still in the middle of this fight, but Iowans have responded and have done what they always do," said Lt. Governor Judge. "They have come together to help their friends, families, and communities. And with this unified front, I am confident that we will come out from this disaster stronger than before.”
In addition, state officials urged Iowans to stay off the roads if travel is not necessary.
“This is a very unique situation, and many Iowans are naturally interested to see the effects of the flood first hand,” said Gene Meyer, Commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety. “What Iowans need to remember is that we need to keep the roads clear for emergency services and potential evacuations. Public safety is our top priority, and we urge Iowans to assist us by heeding our warnings to only travel in these difficult areas if absolutely necessary.”
FEDERAL DECLARATIONS
- Six additional counties are now eligible for Individual Assistance:
- Adams, Page, Marion, Story, Tama and Union
- Individual Assistance allows homeowners, renters, business owners and non-profit organizations to recover from the effects of severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that began May 25 and continues.
- Eleven additional are now eligible for Public Assistance:
- Boone, Cerro Gordo, Crawford, Dallas, Dubuque, Floyd, Franklin, Marion, Story, Tama and Union
- Public Assistance funds pay 75 percent of the approved cost of debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities. A series of applicant briefings will be held for local officials to explain the application process. Black Hawk, Buchanan, Butler and Delaware were previously included on the declaration for Public Assistance.
- Disaster assessments of additional counties are on-going.
IOWA DOT DIRECTOR AND DPS COMMISSIONER ASK IOWANS TO STAY OUT OF FLOODED AREAS
- The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Public Safety are seeking the assistance of Iowans in alleviating the traffic problems occurring in Eastern and Central Iowa, including the Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas where evacuations are taking place. A six-mile section of Interstate 380 near North Liberty will close.
- Iowa DOT Director Nancy Richardson and Iowa DPS Commissioner Gene Meyer spoke to Iowa Governor Chet Culver this afternoon. He expressed concerns regarding the traffic congestion occurring in the area at a time when critical evacuations and emergency operations are underway. Governor Culver said, “We desperately need the help and cooperation of Iowans so that critical transportation missions can be accomplished.”
- Richardson and Meyer are taking all measures to assist with traffic control efforts in the region and are requesting that no nonessential travel occur in the areas affected. They share the same message, “Unless you are directly involved in providing emergency services or are a person trying to evacuate, stay out of this area. The safety of Iowans is at risk.”
MASON CITY WATER NOW SAFE:
- The public water supply was declared safe to drink as of 9:30 a.m.
- Water service was lost when a levee broke on Sunday.
ROAD CLOSURES
CLOSURE OF I-80: Interstate 80 continues closed east of Iowa City. Westbound motorists traveling through the state are being directed to use US 61 to US 20 to I-35 back to I-80 at Des Moines. Eastbound traffic is diverting north on I-35 at Des Moines, then east on US 20 to US 61 and south to I-80 at Davenport. Interstate 80 remains open from Des Moines to Iowa City.
CLOSURE OF I-380: The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) is preparing to close the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 380 (also U.S. 218/Iowa 27) in eastern Iowa between exit 4 (North Liberty) and exit 10. The closure is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. today. However, water is already creeping near the roadway and the road may be closed sooner. If you need to use this road to evacuate the area, begin making plans to do so immediately.
For additional information, go to www.511ia.org. Use the low bandwidth version for a complete listing of closures.
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CURRENT COUNTIES UNDER GOVERNOR DISASTER PROCLAMATION:
- 83 Counties as of 6/13/08
- Counties under proclamation include: Adair, Adams, Allamakee, Appanoose, Audubon, Benton, Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clarke, Clayton, Crawford, Clinton, Dallas, Delaware, Dubuque, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Fremont, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Howard, Humboldt, Henry, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Jefferson, Keokuk, Kossuth, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lucas, Marion, Marshall, Mitchell, Monona, Montgomery, Muscatine, Mahaska, Madison, Mills, Monroe, Page, Polk, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Scott, Story, Shelby, Tama, Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Webster, Winneshiek, Worth, Wright, Washington, Wayne, and Winnebago.
CURRENT LISTING OF SHELTERS:
The number of shelters being opened is growing.
To get Red Cross Shelter information, call 1-800-GET-INFO (1-800-438-4636)
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
- 211 (regional call center to help people with human services)
- Concern Hotline 1-800-447-1985 for volunteers and donations
- NEW Road Closures hotline 1-866-452-8510
- FEMA 1-800-621-3362 (to register for federal individual disaster assistance) TTY 1-800-462-7585
- To get Red Cross Shelter information, call 1-800-GET-INFO (1-800-438-4636)
TOTAL FATALITIES: There have been a total of fifteen storm-related deaths since the tornado of May 25, including six in Parkersburg, two in New Hartford, one in Hamilton County, one in Wright County, one in Palo Alto County, and four Boy Scouts in Monona County
(Break down)
- 15 storm related fatalities since May 25, 2008
- 6 killed in Parkersburg tornado
- 2 killed in New Hartford
- Seven total weather-related deaths have been reported since Sunday, June 8, 2008.
- Fatality occurred on Sunday, June 8, 2008 in Hamilton County when a car hydroplaned and the driver lost control.
- Tuesday, June 10, 2008, a Wright County farmer went out to check his property and was swept away by flood waters. His body was recovered later that day.
- Wednesday, June 11, 2008 a man was killed when he was struck by lightning in Curlew in Palo Alto County.
- Four children died in Wednesday night’s tornado in Monona County.