Washington D.C.- Congressman Steve King (R-IA) has traveled throughout the 5th District to inspect the impact of Missouri River flooding on local communities. As part of his survey, King made stops in Woodbury, Monona, Pottawattamie and Fremont counties.

Congressman Steve King (right) discusses flood preparation efforts in Pottawattamie County with Mayor Tom Hanafan of Council Bluffs during a June 9 briefing held at the Emergency Operations Command Center in Council Bluffs.

At each stop, King examined the extent of area flooding and received briefings on actions that local communities are taking to implement emergency management procedures to safeguard the lives and property of Iowans. King also participated in an aerial survey of Missouri River flooding, viewing the flood’s effects from the southern tip of the Fifth district to Gav

in’s Point in Yankton, South Dakota.
“The Missouri River flood is affecting communities throughout western Iowa, and the scope and scale cannot be understood fully until it is seen firsthand,” said King. “Homes are being flooded, crops are being destroyed, businesses are being closed, and, unfortunately, the flood waters will not be receding anytime soon. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this will be a historic flood. It is exactly the kind of natural disaster that requires a coordinated response from all levels of government- local, state and federal.”

“I will be working with the Governor’s office, and with my colleagues in Congress, to ensure that communities throughout western Iowa have access to the federal resources that are available to help them protect their citizens and infrastructure, and to help them recover. I also want to express my appreciation for everyone who is volunteering their time to assist with flood prevention efforts. Sandbags do not fill or place themselves, and it has been inspiring to watch Iowans band together to do the hard work that is necessary to keep the water out.”

(Press Release from the office of Cong. KIng)

The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) continues to work closely with personnel from the Iowa National Guard, Department of Human Services, Department of Public Safety, Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources and other agencies as appropriate at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in response to the flooding situation in Western Iowa. 

Here are the latest developments:

• IA National Guard personnel have been requested to patrol levees in Mills and Pottawattamie Counties. Guard personnel began patrolling levees in Woodbury County over the weekend.

Missouri River crossings

1.       The Iowa DOT is expecting the Missouri River crossings at the following locations to remain open during the flooding

2.       Sioux City: U.S. 77/U.S.20 to South Sioux City, Nebr.; and U.S. 20/U.S. 75 to Nebraska

3.       Council Bluffs/Omaha: I-480 and I-80

o   Call center established for road closures:  1-866-452-8510

• Iowa State Patrol will be assisting Fremont County Sheriff’s Dept. with enhanced security patrols along the I-29 corridor where residents have evacuated. There are no reports of looting at this time.

AMES, Iowa – June 13, 2011; 11 a.m. – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is reporting that flood waters are quickly approaching the Interstate 29/680 interchange near Loveland and it may be inundated by flood waters today. This is Exit 13B from I-680W to I-29N. 
The Iowa DOT is implementing steps to delay the closure as long as possible; however, it will eventually be inundated.  The area impacted is immediately north of the present closure of I-29, which extends from milepost 55 in Council Bluffs to  milepost 71 near Loveland. The closure of this interchange severs key north-south I-29 travel.    
When the interchange is flooded, the Iowa DOT will close:
·         I-680 west- and eastbound from milepost 21 near Beebeetown (Pottawattamie/Harrison County Road L-34) to the I-29/680 interchange (milepost 71 near Loveland). 
·         I-29 south- and northbound lanes from the I-29/680 interchange to the I-29/U.S. 30 interchange (milepost 75 near Missouri Valley).

Local and I-29 regional corridor traffic (Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota)
·         Follow the posted local detours or call the Iowa DOT’s flood hotline at 1-866-452-8510 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for personal traveler assistance. 
·         After hours, call 511 (in Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (out of state) for a recorded message of closed roads.
·         View the flooded Iowa roads map for road closures, detours and areas at risk of flooding – http://tinyurl.com/3o2mtlp

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State officials say crews are working to reinforce and patch aging levees as they prepare for a record release of water on the Missouri River.

Speaking Monday at a news conference with Gov. Terry Branstad, Iowa National Guard Adjutant Derek Hill acknowledged officials are worried about the strength of many levees that haven’t been updated in years.

He says those levees will be under intense strain as more water from reservoirs upstream is released. That high water will hit Sioux City on Wednesday and Council Bluffs on Thursday.

Gov. Terry Branstad says officials continue to examine the levees, looking for spots where repairs are needed.

The DCI and Carter Lake Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a near drowning at a pool. Officials say a caller to 9-1-1 just after 8-p.m. Friday reported a child’s body was discovered in a pool at 1509 Q Avenue.

When law enforcement and medical personnel arrived on the scene they found the 15-month old toddler unresponsive. The DCI was contacted to conduct an investigation into the incident.

Officials say at this time it appears to be accidental. The toddler remains in critical care at a local hospital.

w/ News Director Ric Hanson

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The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested last week on domestic abuse-related charges. Officials say 33-year old Jonathan Talmadge Pennock, of Shenandoah, was arrested last Wednesday for violation of a no contact order issued May 23rd, on behalf of Jami Lynn Franklin.

And, on June 7^th, 22-year old Jesse Dean Seifert, of Omaha, NE, was arrested on a charge of serious assault, following an incident which was reported that same day by Mary Ellison, from Shenandoah. Seifert made his initial appearance in court last Thursday, at which time he was ordered to have no further contact with the alleged victim of the assault.

The sheriff’s office reports also, 58-year old Terry Ray Gray, of Hastings, NE, was arrested June 3^rd, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. A hearing on the charge is set to take place this Thursday afternoon, in Fremont County District Court. In the meantime, Gray was being held in jail on $5,000 bond.

And, no injuries were reported following a rollover accident June 2^nd, in Fremont County. Officials say Jennifer Krause, of Percival, was driving a 2003 Nissan Xterra north on 200^th Avenue by the Plum Creek levee, when a deer entered the road. Krause lost control of the SUV, causing the vehicle to slide off the road and hit a metal gate before rolling over onto its top.

Three people were injured Saturday afternoon during a rollover accident in Harrison County. The Iowa State Patrol says the crash happened at around 12:10-p.m., about three-miles north of the Mondamin exit, as one vehicle was passing another.

Officials say a non-contact vehicle was passing a 2001 Ford Excursion on the left as both were headed northbound on I-29. The driver of the SUV, 18-year old Donald Bennett, of Arlington, TN, became nervous and moved to the right. Once Bennett realized he was too close to the concrete barrier, he moved back over to the left, causing the SUV to swerve.

Bennett overcorrected, causing the Excursion to go out of control and enter a spin. It then left the roadway and rolled several times into the east ditch. Bennett remained trapped in the vehicle for time before he was flown by Mercy Air Care to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.

Two passengers in the SUV, 16-year old Amanda Bennett and 56-year old Mary Bennett, were transported by Mondamin Rescue to the Onawa Hospital. All of the vehicles’ occupants were wearing their seatbelts.

The Patrol says Donald Bennett was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. The SUV he was driving sustained $15,000 damage.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Fearing flooding from the swollen Missouri River, the Pottawattamie County Animal Shelter has moved from Council Bluffs to a new spot in Underwood.

Some volunteers are providing temporary housing for some of the dogs up for adoption.

The shelter says the animals available for adoption may be seen online at www.pottcountypets.petfinder.com.

People who want to adopt any of the animals must schedule an appointment by calling 712-366-0152.

w/ News Director Ric Hanson

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