Flooding:
According to the Army Corps of Engineers it's looking like Sailorville lake is going to go today. Start prepping, seriously. If you missed it, scroll back in my journal to yesterdays' flood preparation post.
http://www.kcci.com/news/16551850/detail.html?treets=des&taf=des
DES MOINES, Iowa -- City of Des Moines officials said Tuesday that some downtown bridges will be closed Tuesday night as a precaution as floodwaters push into the area.
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The latest projections show Saylorville Lake will top its emergency spillway on Tuesday. Floodwaters will then flow down the Des Moines River and into Des Moines.
Officials said the bridges on Court, Grand, Walnut and Locust will close Tuesday.
The Walnut Street Bridge will close at 2 p.m. The Grand Avenue, Locust Street and Court Avenue bridges will close at 6 p.m.
The earlier closure of the Walnut Street Bridge is to allow a contractor some additional time to get all four bridges closed and sealed up watertight, city officials said.
The bridges will be completely closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Downtown Detours
Traffic should use either a north detour or south detour route. The north detour route will use 2nd Avenue and 3rd Street, University Avenue and E. 6th Street and Penn Avenue.
The south detour route will use SW 3rd and 2nd Street, Jackson Street, SE 1st Street and Scott Avenue, and SE 6th Street.
Traffic can also use I-235 to get across the Des Moines River between the east and west downtown areas.
'Significant Flooding Expected'
State officials said Monday that they expect "significant," though not record flooding in the city of Des Moines later this week.
During a Monday news conference at the state emergency command center at Camp Dodge, National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Johnson said a record crest is just now hitting Stratford on the Des Moines River.
Johnson said all of that water has yet to arrive at Saylorville Lake. Johnson said he anticipates the lake will spill over the emergency spillway at Saylorville sometime in the next day or two. When that happens, "the amount to be released downstream into Des Moines will increase significantly."
Officials said they believe levee improvements will protect the city from flooding.
Johnson said the Raccoon River is in better shape, but he anticipates continued high levels on the Raccoon as it runs into the Des Moines River at downtown Des Moines. Johnson said high levels on the Des Moines River will act like a "water dam", backing up the Raccoon.
Johnson also said he anticipates a record flood in Iowa City on the Iowa River. The Iowa River will also be high going through Marshalltown. In fact, Johnson said the weather service's radio transmitter in Marshalltown is threatened by high water, and had to be turned off Monday.
After showing river forecast graphs, Johnson said more rain later this week could make things worse. "Additional rainfall is not in these models. We'd have to account for that," Johnson said.
Forty-one counties have been declared disaster areas in Iowa. "We're all concerned with the forecast and what that might bring," said Dave Miller of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security.
Mid-American Energy officials said they feel the company's electrical substation equipment will be adequately protected. During the 1993 flood, five substations were submerged, cutting power to a large part of Des Moines for several days. That complicated an already difficult situation for a city without water service for 12 days.
"We feel confident our substations are protected from oncoming high water," said Ann Thelen, a Mid-American spokeswoman. She said the company took additional steps after 1993 to raise protection around critical electrical equipment.
Sandbagging Across The State
Emergency response officials reported severe flooding in many communities in northern Iowa. Mason City was among those hit the hardest. Mayor Roger Bang declare a state of emergency Sunday night and a put a curfew into effect until Monday morning.
A levee broke along the Winnebago River in Mason City and its water treatment plant was shut down.
Water spilled over a retention dam in New Hartford, affecting around 300 residents. The town had been sent 21,000 sandbags and officials are working to set up a shelter.
Over 42,000 sandbags and 4 pumps have been sent to the Iowa City area. Officials believe that the Coralville Reservoir could top its spillway and flood Iowa City by Tuesday.
Free Sandbags In Des Moines
City officials said sandbags are available for Des Moines residents at the Eastside Library located at 2559 Hubbell Avenue. Public Works will have the sandbag station open 24 hours around the the clock.
Residents must fill their own bags. Sand, bags and shovels are provided.
http://www.kcci.com/news/16551850/detail.html?treets=des&taf=des
DES MOINES, Iowa -- City of Des Moines officials said Tuesday that some downtown bridges will be closed Tuesday night as a precaution as floodwaters push into the area.
<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/ibs.hearst.contextweb/local;sz=300x250;ord=[timestamp]?" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/ibs.hearst.contextweb/local;sz=300x250;ord=[timestamp]?" width="300" height="250" border="0" alt=""></a> <a href="http://www.quantcast.com/p-01-0VIaSjnOLg" target="_blank"><img src="http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-01-0VIaSjnOLg.gif?tags=ADSDAQ.LAWPOLITICS,501657" style="display:none;width:0;height:0;border:0" alt="Quantcast"/></a> <a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/ibs.des.news/national;kw=news+square;ad=true;pgtype=detail;ptile=8;sz=300x250;ord=123456789?"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/ibs.des.news/national;kw=news+square;ad=true;pgtype=detail;ptile=8;sz=300x250;ord=123456789?" border="0" alt="sponsor" width="300" height="250"></a>
The latest projections show Saylorville Lake will top its emergency spillway on Tuesday. Floodwaters will then flow down the Des Moines River and into Des Moines.
Officials said the bridges on Court, Grand, Walnut and Locust will close Tuesday.
The Walnut Street Bridge will close at 2 p.m. The Grand Avenue, Locust Street and Court Avenue bridges will close at 6 p.m.
The earlier closure of the Walnut Street Bridge is to allow a contractor some additional time to get all four bridges closed and sealed up watertight, city officials said.
The bridges will be completely closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Downtown Detours
Traffic should use either a north detour or south detour route. The north detour route will use 2nd Avenue and 3rd Street, University Avenue and E. 6th Street and Penn Avenue.
The south detour route will use SW 3rd and 2nd Street, Jackson Street, SE 1st Street and Scott Avenue, and SE 6th Street.
Traffic can also use I-235 to get across the Des Moines River between the east and west downtown areas.
'Significant Flooding Expected'
State officials said Monday that they expect "significant," though not record flooding in the city of Des Moines later this week.
During a Monday news conference at the state emergency command center at Camp Dodge, National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Johnson said a record crest is just now hitting Stratford on the Des Moines River.
Johnson said all of that water has yet to arrive at Saylorville Lake. Johnson said he anticipates the lake will spill over the emergency spillway at Saylorville sometime in the next day or two. When that happens, "the amount to be released downstream into Des Moines will increase significantly."
Officials said they believe levee improvements will protect the city from flooding.
Johnson said the Raccoon River is in better shape, but he anticipates continued high levels on the Raccoon as it runs into the Des Moines River at downtown Des Moines. Johnson said high levels on the Des Moines River will act like a "water dam", backing up the Raccoon.
Johnson also said he anticipates a record flood in Iowa City on the Iowa River. The Iowa River will also be high going through Marshalltown. In fact, Johnson said the weather service's radio transmitter in Marshalltown is threatened by high water, and had to be turned off Monday.
After showing river forecast graphs, Johnson said more rain later this week could make things worse. "Additional rainfall is not in these models. We'd have to account for that," Johnson said.
Forty-one counties have been declared disaster areas in Iowa. "We're all concerned with the forecast and what that might bring," said Dave Miller of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security.
Mid-American Energy officials said they feel the company's electrical substation equipment will be adequately protected. During the 1993 flood, five substations were submerged, cutting power to a large part of Des Moines for several days. That complicated an already difficult situation for a city without water service for 12 days.
"We feel confident our substations are protected from oncoming high water," said Ann Thelen, a Mid-American spokeswoman. She said the company took additional steps after 1993 to raise protection around critical electrical equipment.
Sandbagging Across The State
Emergency response officials reported severe flooding in many communities in northern Iowa. Mason City was among those hit the hardest. Mayor Roger Bang declare a state of emergency Sunday night and a put a curfew into effect until Monday morning.
A levee broke along the Winnebago River in Mason City and its water treatment plant was shut down.
Water spilled over a retention dam in New Hartford, affecting around 300 residents. The town had been sent 21,000 sandbags and officials are working to set up a shelter.
Over 42,000 sandbags and 4 pumps have been sent to the Iowa City area. Officials believe that the Coralville Reservoir could top its spillway and flood Iowa City by Tuesday.
Free Sandbags In Des Moines
City officials said sandbags are available for Des Moines residents at the Eastside Library located at 2559 Hubbell Avenue. Public Works will have the sandbag station open 24 hours around the the clock.
Residents must fill their own bags. Sand, bags and shovels are provided.