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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Use Caution When Returning Home To Clean Up After Flood

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Disaster officials urge Iowa residents to take extra precautions when returning to tornado or flood-damaged homes, apartments or businesses to avoid accidents and injury. The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) caution that all danger has not passed simply because the water is receding and the tornado has moved on.

Flood and wind hazards leave behind exposed electrical wires, contaminated floodwater and weakened structures. These are not always obvious, but can be life-threatening.

BEFORE ENTERING A BUILDING

• Check the outside of the building: Call your utility company immediately if you see downed power lines, detect gas leaks (Natural gas leaks smell like rotten eggs.) or see water gurgling up from underground.
• Look for external damage: Examine the foundation for cracks or other damage. Inspect porch roofs, overhangs and the foundation. If you find obvious damage, ask a building inspector to check the building before you go inside.
• Enter the building carefully: If the door sticks at the top as it opens, it could mean the ceiling is ready to cave in. Don’t walk under a sagging ceiling until it has been checked.

AFTER ENTERING A BUILDING

• Turn off the main electricity breakers and valves for water and gas. Even if the power company has turned off electricity to the area, be sure to disconnect your home’s main power supply. Have all utility connections inspected before resuming their use. Do not use appliances or motors that were exposed to water until they have been cleaned and dried.
• Dress for safety. A disposable dust mask will keep out nuisance dust, but consider a specialized mask with changeable filters to filter mold spores (organic vapor), asbestos, lead or other contaminants. Wear safety glasses, leather or rubber gloves and protective shoes (Avoid rubber-soled athletic shoes when walking in or around debris). This will minimize harm to you if you encounter a hazard. Hard hats, long sleeves and pants are encouraged to guard against bumps and scrapes.
• Look before you step: Floors and stairs may be covered with debris and may be very slippery. Watch out for window glass, broken bottles, nails and other hazards.
• Be alert for gas leaks: Do not strike a match or use an open flame when entering a building unless you know the gas has been turned off and the area has been ventilated. Use a flashlight to inspect for damage, not an open flame.
• Be aware of water-borne health hazards: Floodwaters pick up sewage and chemicals from roads, farms, factories, and storage buildings. Inside the home, any flooded items, such as wallboard and mattresses, will hold mud and contamination forever. Throw them out. Spoiled food, water-logged cosmetics and medicine are also health hazards. When in doubt, throw it out. Don’t let children play in standing water following a flood.

CLEANING UP A BUILDING

• Hose down the house: Many health hazards are found in the mud and silt that floodwaters leave behind. Shovel as much mud and debris as possible out of the house, then hose it down, inside and out.
• Expect mold growth. Within days of being waterlogged, dry wall, upholstered furniture, and wooden fixtures may develop mold or mildew. Mold and mildew can be health hazards. Ask your local health authorities for information on removing mold.
• Carbon monoxide exhaust kills: Do not use camp stoves and charcoal grills indoors. All cooking on camp stoves and charcoal grills should be done outside. Gas and charcoal fumes can be deadly.
• For several days after you return, be on the lookout for any broken utility connections: Broken water or sewer pipes, bent gas pipes and damaged electrical outlets or fixtures can be serious hazard. Get damage repaired as quickly as possible.

WHILE TRAVELING TO AND FROM HOME FOLLOWING A DISASTER

• Beware of water on the road. Water covering the road could hide potholes or washed-away sections of road.  Never drive around barriers. Cars are buoyant and can begin to float in less than 24” of water. Turn around. Don’t drown. Also, water can rise very quickly. You don’t want be caught half way to the other side.
• Sightseeing can be hazardous following a disaster. Consider all downed power lines “live.” Broken water lines could undermine roads. Drive defensively. Encourage sightseers to stay away. Even pulling off the road onto soggy road shoulders or medians could lead to an unnecessary tow truck rescue.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• Register with FEMA. Notifying your local government or non-profit organizations about damage to your home does not register you with FEMA. Call toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY or 800-462-7585 for those with speech or hearing impairment or go online anytime at www.fema.gov.
• If new weather events cause additional damage to your property after you register, call and update you damage report - even after an inspector has visited your property. The federal major disaster declaration for Iowa began May 25 and continues.

*NEW* INFORMATION FROM THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES ON APPLYING FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE GRANTS

Disaster Assistance Clarification

Applying for help. Iowa residents who sustained damage in this year’s storms or floods should apply for federal or state-only disaster assistance grants if they are available. Residents are not eligible for both.  By design, the federal program is far more generous than the state-funded Iowa-only program.

How do I know?

• Iowa’s program is automatically turned on when the governor declares a county to be a disaster. He has declared 83 counties so far.
• Iowa’s program is automatically superseded when the president declares a county to be a disaster for individual assistance.

The state program. This is a grant program only for people with very limited income (at or below 130 percent of federal poverty guidelines). Generally, if you are eligible for food stamps, you are eligible for the grant program. The grant is offered in numerous categories, with the maximum grant being about $3,300.  For information, go to dhs.iowa.gov and look for the words “Storm Help” on the front page. Or call toll free (877) 937-3663.

The federal program. The federal government offers extensive grants and loans for Iowans in areas declared a presidential disaster for individual assistance. The federal program is far more beneficial to victims, both in grant maximum amounts and in eligibility criterion. Specifically, it is not limited to people with very low incomes. A good starting point for federal programs relating to the Iowa disaster is this web site. http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=9867 Or call (800) 621-3362.

What happens if there is a conflict?  So far, nobody has filed for grants under the state disaster program in an area that is declared a federal disaster. In the unlikely event that this happens, DHS staff will make contact and help steer the person to more beneficial federal programs. Federal programs offer much more aid and are not limited to low income families.

More information regarding the state and federal disaster grant programs can be found at the following link.  http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/Consumers/Assistance_Programs/CashAssistance/DisasterAssistance/StormHelp.html

BELOW IS THE LATEST UPDATE FROM THE STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER IN JOHNSTON

AREAS OF CONCERN

*New* Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids Police have requested assistance via the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) for additional law enforcement support.  Additional officers are requested to provide public safety and law enforcement services in flood zones in the city.  Officers from Minnesota and Nebraska will supplement Iowa law enforcement resources to provide this support and are being implemented as phased in deployments on a timeline established by Cedar Rapids Police.

Officials understand the frustration of Cedar Rapids residents who want to return home. They stress they are working to clear the evacuated area of all hazards to ensure a safe reentry. Sink holes, downed power lines and uncovered manholes remain a hazard. While the city’s water capacity has improved, residents are asked to conserve water. Linn county has established regular press briefings and residents are encouraged to tune to those for the latest information.

Burlington
With the levee break at Gulfport Illinois the river level has actually dropped.

Projections call for it to rise again, but unclear if it will crest now at historical levels.

Local officials have taken steps to heighten their levees and we are watching and monitoring the situation.

Iowa homeland security officials continue to closely monitor the situation with local officials and stand ready to support them with any requests they may have.

Approximately 500 National Guard soldiers are in the area to help local officials with flood preparation and response.


Keokuk
It is expected to crest Thursday afternoon at 28 feet, which will beat the previous record of 27.6 feet.

Local officials have taken steps to heighten their levees and we are watching and monitoring the situation.

Approximately 500 National Guard soldiers are in the area to help local officials with flood preparation and response.

Fort Madison
The Fort Madison Toll Bridge has reopened.

Local officials have taken steps to protect the local water treatment facility.

More than 200 National Guard soldiers are in the area to help local officials with flood preparation and response.

Ottumwa
The river has crested in Ottumwa.  Though waters are receding, the threat remains that water control efforts could fail.  Citizens are encouraged to use caution in the coming days.

Oakville
The community continues to be inundated with flood waters.

FATALITIES

There have been seventeen storm-related deaths since the tornado of May 25.

Fatalities:
8 Butler County (tornado)
1 Wright County (Flooding)
1 Palo Alto/ Curlew (lightning)
1 Hamilton County (Flooding)
4 Monona County (Tornado)
1  Linn County (Flooding)
1  Louisa County (Flooding)

A additional fatality in Henry County is currently under investigation to determine if the death was the result of a traffic crash or the result of a unrelated medical condition, but it is not being considered a flood related death. 


ROAD CLOSURES

Interstate 80 in Cedar County opened at 4:00 p.m. June 16. Interstate 380 from exit 4 to exit 10 in Johnson County is scheduled to open Tuesday at 6:00 a.m.

New Updates:

• Iowa 2 (off of U.S. 61): The Fort Madison toll bridge in Lee County (also known as the Santa Fe Swing Span Bridge) that connects Fort Madison, Iowa, and Niota, Ill., is open. The bridge is the eastern terminus of Iowa 2, and western terminus of Illinois Route 9. Although this route was reopened this afternoon, Illinois Routes 9 and 96 are closed by high water heading east and north from Niota. Illinois Route 96 southbound from Niota is the only route open once you cross the bridge into Illinois.
• U.S. 34 bridge in Burlington: A levee breech in Gulfport, Ill., caused the U.S. 34 bridge at Burlington, Iowa, to close. This bridge remains closed.
• U.S. 136 bridge at Keokuk: The U.S. 136 crossing at Keokuk is presently open to only local traffic. Flaggers are in place to assist motorists. This bridge will be closed overnight from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. to allow crews to work on raising the elevation of the road with rock and gravel.
• Quincy, Ill., crossings: The Bayview Bridge on Illinois Route 96 at Quincy is open and temporarily carrying traffic in both directions. The Memorial Bridge remains closed due to high water.
• Iowa 92 bridge at Muscatine: While the Iowa 92 bridge in Muscatine is open, several connecting roadways are closed, making it difficult to reach destinations beyond Muscatine. The state routes out of Muscatine currently include: Iowa 38 north to Interstate 80 and U.S. 61 east to the Quad Cities.

DECLARATIONS

Counties covered under Governor Culver’s Disaster Proclamation:  83 counties. 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.

The Governor's proclamation activates Iowa's individual disaster assistance program. Iowa’s individual disaster assistance program helps people with low incomes.  Iowans with household incomes of up to 130 percent of federal poverty guidelines may apply for a grant of up to $3,300 to help recover from flood damage. The Governor emphasized that this is a reimbursement program, meaning that applicants must include receipts when applying for help.

Counties declared presidential disasters for Individual Assistance:  29 counties. Allamakee, Des Moines, Fremont, Harrison, Clayton, Adams, Cedar, Jones, Louisa, Muscatine, Polk, Winneshiek, Benton, Bremer, Black Hawk, Butler, Buchanan, Cerro Gordo, Delaware, Fayette, Floyd, Hardin, Johnson, Linn, Marion, Page, 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.

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.

Counties declared presidential disasters for Public Assistance: 28 counties.  Adams, Linn, Winneshiek, Grundy, Howard, Iowa, Marshall, Mitchell, Ringgold, Worth, Wright, Clayton, Black Hawk, Boone, Buchanan, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Crawford, Dallas, Delaware, Des Moines, 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.

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.

**NEW** Governor Culver has asked for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for all 83 Governor’s Declared Counties.   Under the process he makes the request and FEMA makes the final determination on eligibility. In addition, the Governor continues to ask for the maximum available assistance from the Federal Government.


SHELTERS

American Red Cross Open Shelters:

Benton County
Iowa Braille School, 1002 G Avenue Vinton, IA 52349;

Black Hawk County
UNI West Gym, University Ave & Campus St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613;

Bremer County
Wartburg College, 222 9th ST NW, Waverly, IA 50677;

Des Moines County
West Burlington High School, 408 West Van Weiss Blvd., West Burlington, IA

Johnson County
Johnson County Fairgrounds, 4265 Oak Crest Hill Rd SE Iowa City, IA 52240; Northwest Jr High School, 1507 8th Street, Coralville, Iowa 52241;

Linn County
Viola Gibson Elm. School, 6101 Gibson Dr. NE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404;
Prairie High School, 401 76th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 62404;

Louisa County
Louisa/Muscatine School, 14353 170th St, Letts, Iowa 52754;

Page County
Old Armory, 423 West Thomas, Shenandoah, Iowa 51601;

Polk County
Callanan Middle School, 3010 Center Street Des Moines, IA 50312;

**16 shelters are in standby mode throughout the State**


IMPORTANT NOTICES
Stay out of flood affected areas unless you have been told to be there.  Emergency Management Officials need clear access to these areas, and unless you need to be there, stay away.

Evacuate Means Evacuate.  If you are directed by local officials to evacuate, leave the area immediately.  The situation remains dangerous, and to help protect the lives of Iowans, please leave if you are told to do so.

Be wary of unscrupulous practices.  Disasters bring out the best in people, and can sometimes bring out the worst.  Reports are sporadic at this time, but have indicated that Iowans affected by flood waters have been scammed by people posing as contractors or emergency personnel.  Remember:

 *   Never pay for goods or services in advance
 *   Never give out your social security number
 *   Always ask for identification

UPDATED:

EVACUATIONS
This is the latest information gathered in terms of the number of Iowans that have been evacuated as a result of this flood. In most cases local officials and emergency managers have allowed reentry.

• Black Hawk County
  • Cedar Falls = 1000
  • Waterloo = 300
• Butler Co:
  • New Hartford and Greene = 300 evacuees
• Cerro Gordo
  • Rural = 100
• Clayton Co
  • Elkader = 220
• Clinton Co:
  • Toronto = 26
• Des Moines Co
  • Burlington (Townships Tama, Jackson, Huron) = 350
• Dubuque
  • Dyersville = 75
• Cascade = 40
• Hamilton
  • Blairsburg  = 4
  • Webster City = 19
• Johnson County
  • Iowa City = 5,000
• Johnson County Rural = 299
• Lee Co
  • Montrose (Sandusky Area) = 350
• Louisa Co
  • Columbus Junction = 1616 + 37 from Colonial Manor Nursing Care
• Fredonia = 201
• Oakville = 442
• Linn Co
  • Cedar Rapids = 25,000 + 205 patients from Mercy Hospital
• Palo = 400 residential + 37 commercial
• Madison Co
  • East Peru = 15
• Mahaska Co
  • Red Rock Area = 85
• Polk Co
  • Des Moines = 240
• Scott Co
  • Bettendorf (Duck Creek Area) = 350         
• Wapello County
  • Ottumwa = 200
  • Eddyville = 30
• Winneshiek Co
  • Decorah = 1240
• Freeport = 230
• Fort Atkinson = 50
• Spillville = 45
• Winneshiek Rural Areas = 150

38,656  Evacuees, 18 Counties, 31 Towns-Townships-Rural Areas

VOLUNTEER
Iowans interested in volunteering or donating are encouraged to visit the flood 2008 website at www.flood2008.iowa.gov. They can also contact the Iowa Concerns Hotline at:  800.447.1985.

WARNING
Please stay out of areas affected by flooding unless you are directed to be there.  Emergency personnel need free access to these areas, and onlookers affect emergency operations.


KEY NUMBERS/WEBSITE
To obtain updated shelter information, call 1-800-GET-INFO (438-4636)

211 (regional call center to help people with human services)

Iowa Concern Hotline 1-800-447-1985 for volunteers and donations

Road Closures Hotline 1-866-452-8510 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily or 24 hours at www.511ia.org .

To apply for federal assistance, contact FEMA at www.fema.gov.

To apply for the State Individual Assistance program contact the Iowa Department of Human Services at dhs.iowa.gov and click the "storm help" link.

For current weather forecasts and flood statements, visit www.weather.gov.


PRESS BRIEFINGS

A copy of today’s press briefing, as well as previous briefings can be found at the Flood 2008 Resource Website at www.flood2008.iowa.gov.  Click on the ‘News’ link.

GOVERNOR CULVER’S SCHEDULE FOR TOMORROW