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Tuesday flood watch

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a warning that about two dozen levees in the region, in Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa, could be overtopped by floodwaters this week. The water is expected to continue to rise by several more feet this week as the flood waters from the north move into the region, and 26-27 levees between Davenport Iowa and St Louis may be overtopped if rapid sandbagging is not completed in time. Some of the communites at high risk include Qunicy and Alton Illinois, Hannibal Missouri, and parts of St Louis can expect moderate flooding.

Flood stages at St Louis are expected to reach to a few inches below the top of the Choteau Island levee (40 feet) which protects 2400 acres. Another concern is that some parts of the levee system that protect the Metro East area (Granite City, East St Louis, Cahokia, Wood River) have been determined by the US Army Corps of Engineers to be partly structurally deficient, and prone to underseepage, with a slight risk of liquefaction and failure. Approximately 150,000 people live behind those levees.

* Levee breaks…

A levee gave way early Tuesday near Lomax, Illinois, flooding thousands of acres of farmland and the village of Gulfport, said Deputy Donnie Seitz of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.

“It’s been an uphill battle from the start, and the levee just broke loose,” Seitz said.

U.S. 34 “could be under 10 feet of water within 15 to 20 hours,” he said.

* More…

McCloud said there have been more than a half-dozen levee breaches in Illinois in the past week or so, including in the Mercer County community of Keithsburg, where water continued to rise.

* Audio report

* More trouble in Grafton…

“It’s coming up the street,” said Jeneane DeSherlia, who was moving everything on the first floor of a three-story building she and her husband own in the Mississippi River community of Grafton to the higher floors in anticipation of the ground floor being a couple feet underwater within the next few days. “It’s getting closer.”

* Gov. Blagojevich calls out more National Guard troops…

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today activated an additional 400 Illinois National Guard troops to assist with flood efforts along the Mississippi River, bringing the total troops engaged in the flood fight to 1,100. A State helicopter and additional rescue personnel are on stand-by for any additional emergency situations such as a levee break. […]

The Governor also applauded conservation police officers from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for assisting with a rescue operation this morning after a levee failed in Henderson County near Gulfport. More than a dozen people who were sandbagging the levee were stranded there until conservation officers and a Medivac helicopter from Iowa rescued them. People stranded on nearby US 34 and in a house in Carman were also rescued. […]

To date the Governor has declared 17 counties disaster areas.

* More info can be found at this link. Road and bridge closures are listed here.

* Related…

* Bush Vows to Speed Relief for Flood Victims

* Quincy mayor expresses pride in outpouring of help in sandbagging effort

* Wakonda State Park 90 percent flooded after levee gives way; workers not optimistic as water begins to erode South River levee in Marion County

* Seven Things You Can Do Right Now To Help Flood Victims

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 12:18 pm

Comments

In 1993, Katrina and the current flood it has been the DNR types that have gotten things done while the bureaucrats held press conferences.

Comment by Leave a light on George Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 1:09 pm
We are mobilizing our people here at IEMA to go and sand bag, do damage assessment, transport supplies…whatever is needed. We ALL in State governement need to get active…to show others WE really do WORK…and not just shuffle papers…Sorry for the soapbox.

Comment by Siyotanka Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 1:34 pm
My hope is that this current flood catastrophe will push the Army Corps and FEMA to reexamine the currently flood frequency analysis models, reanalyze the data in light of land-use changes and climate change, and reproject the 100-year and 500-year floods.

Much of the damage being experienced could have been avoided with proper planning based on good maps and up-to-date models. Without accurate floodplain maps and recurrence and stage height projections, no local government can hope to plan & zone appropriately.

It is my understanding that, in their most recent revision, the Corps did not include climate change, land-use change, and navigation structures in their analysis. This results in too low projections of likely floods and subsequently in too low levees and structures built in harms way.

It is unfortunate that the Feds are a party to this catastrophe. There needs to be a push to remedy this and to follow up by moving people and businesses out of harms way.

Comment by Illinois Geologist Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 2:33 pm
Filled sandbags for much of the day yesterday in Hull, Ill. Lots of good people there, many who will not be affected by flood waters but who wanted to help their neighbors. People talked and laughed and compared this flood season to ‘93. Farmers and IDOT had trucks hauling bags. Members of the Unity High School (Mendon) football team were there to bag. It was heartening to see all manner of folks lending a hand.

Drivers hauling sandbags to the levee said the waters were seeping through, but they had not seen any boils yet. Crests are to move through this section of the Mississippi tomorrow and Thursday. Most of the people in Hull had semi trailers parked in front of their homes, rready to be loaded in case the levees failed. We’ll see what happens.

Comment by Fan of the Game Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 2:51 pm
Rich is there any way you can post a list of places that need help with sandbagging and other efforts. I for one would like to go help sandbag but I am not sure what locations are in need at the moment or who to contact to find out.

Comment by Nick L Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 3:17 pm
I spent a fair amount of time in Lomax - my grandmother lived nearby.

Mr. Stiffy’s was a great little bar on the pier there.

Mr. Stiffy’s was also about the only thing above sea level.

I don’t want to discount the personal tragedy, but you have to wonder about the wisdom of building homes and incorporating a city that’s natural state is as far under water as Atlantis.

Sooner or later, Mother Nature wins.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 3:33 pm
What is the underlying root cause here? Are the levies not being properly maintained? Have we done something to the river to make it more prone to flooding? What alternatives do we have–should the state subsidize relocation of residents in exceedingly high flood risk areas?

Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:00 pm
Nick L. -

I found the following at http://www.khqa.com/
KHQ7, click on “sandbagging locations” in the Flood Watch section of the home page:

Keokuk — Sandbaggers are critically needed to help at the Keokuk wastewater treatment plant. Volunteers are requested to report to C and D Streets between Park and Williams

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Hunt Drainage District — Help in the Hunt Drainage District, South of Warsaw along the Bottom Road near County Road North 300. They can call Sam Zumwalt at 309-337-1383.

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Indian Graves, Lima Lake drainage districts — For more information to help with Indian Graves call 217-242-7419. You can also report to Shaffer Farm west of Ursa

From Highway 96, just turn down the Ursa blacktop and go down into the river bottoms.

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Alexandria — **Sandbagging operations have stopped in Alexandria.**

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Quincy — Quincy is calling for sandbagging volunteers starting at 6 a.m. until dark go to the Civic Center.

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Hannibal — **Hannibal has suspended sandbagging operations, and is no longer requesting sandbagging volunteers because the city has extra sandbags on hand if the need arises. John Hark says he feels everything is buttoned up.**

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Sny Island Levee Dist. — KHQA spoke with Mike Reed with the Sny Island levee district. He says volunteers with 4-wheelers, gaters and ATVs are needed to haul sandbags to the levee; volunteers also are needed to help put plastic and sandbags on top of the levee. Volunteers also are needed to fill sandbags.

Call 217-426-2521 to find out where you can go to help.

National Guard soldiers and several crews from area work camps are working on the Sny levee at this time.

—–

Fort Madison — **Sandbagging operations have been halted in Fort Madison.**

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Canton — Due to the high volume of calls at the Canton EOC, a new number has been created so that people who want to volunteer can more quickly get information. To volunteer in Canton, call 573-819-0512.

Tuesday, June 17, they urgently need sandbaggers and people who can muscle bags onto the levee as soon as possible.

Beginning at noon, we need heavy-duty four-wheelers with small garden trailers. All volunteers should report to the old Niemann’s grocery store, 515 Lewis for assignments. The new phone number for information about volunteering is 573-819-0512.

—–

LaGrange — There is an urgent call for people with either trucks and or trailers to help move books from the LaGrange Missouri Public Library. They need help ASAP. The library is located on Highway B, the same building as City Hall. They also need boxes to help with the move

In LaGrange, sandbaggers are desperately needed at 2nd and Washington. The city also has set up an Emergency Operational Center and will hold meetings to assess the situation each morning at 8 a.m.

The city of LaGrange has asked all available fire department personnel in Lewis County to help with sandbagging efforts, with the exception of the Canton Fire Department. Sandbagging operations continue in the center of town. Floodwater is starting to encroach on Main Street. Access to Terrible’s casino is still open. The city of LaGrange reports that Route B is closed; Route C is the only way to get into and out of LaGrange. Only people with business in LaGrange are being allowed in. The city asks that sightseers stay away.

LaGrange residents who need sandbags should contact any city police or fire department official.

Volunteers are needed to help sandbag the Bunge grain elevator in LaGrange. Go to the sandbag area behind the Lions hall in LaGrange.

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Green Bay Levee District — In the Green Bay Levee District in southeast Iowa, sandbagging is still going on and more volunteers are needed.

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Clarksville — The Clarksville mayor is asking for volunteers to help sandbag there. The community has had inmates from seven different correctional facilities helping there over the past couple of days.

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Dallas City — Sandbagging help is needed Tuesday, June 17 at Dallas City at the First Street / old water plant.

Police are enforcing road closed signs. Volunteers are needed; they can park outside those signs and walk to the sandbagging site on 1st Street. National Guard soldiers are scheduled to help there Sunday.

Important note: Dallas City’s sandbagging location has changed; volunteers should report to 1st Street. Anyone with a metal trailer who can help carry sandbags to the levee also should report to the sandbagging location at 1st Street.

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Marion County, Mo. — Sandbaggers are needed at the pump station between Tom Boland Ford and Palmyra on Highway 168 in Marion County, MO.

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Gregory Landing — **Sandbagging operations have stopped in Gregory Landing**

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Hull — Sandbaggers are needed at the Hull Elementary School. Volunteers also are needed to work on the Sny Island levee; call 217-426-2521 to get directions. Coolers, marked with your name and address, are needed to carry water to levee workers; there is no guarantee the coolers can be returned. Take them, along with donations of sunblock, to the Lions Club in Hull. Also, many people in the Hull area are trying to pack up and move out; any help would be appreciated.

—-

Niota — Calling for more sandbaggers. They should meet at the Niota Township Hall and bring shovels and gloves if they can.

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Warsaw — Volunteers should report to 210 North 4th Street, that’s city hall. Also, people living on Water Street in Warsaw need helping trying to save their homes from rising water.

Desperate need of Sandbaggers in Warsaw, volunteers can report to City Hall on North 4th Street.

Comment by silentk Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:02 pm
volunteers needed in Quincy… http://www.ready.illinois.gov/

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:07 pm
For an updated list of places to help around Quincy/Hannibal, check out:

http://www.whig.com/story/Flood-2008-Help

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:09 pm
===What is the underlying root cause here? ===

rain

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:09 pm
Astonishing photos:

http://www.khqa.com/news/floodwatch_pics.aspx

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:16 pm
Can’t say I agree that rain is the underlying root cause. It has rained in Illinois since long before people ever lived here. I assume the the river also flooded; but I also know that we have a tendency to do things to the environment, like removing topsoil and paving over it, which results in dramatically increased levels of runoff. My question was more along the lines of, is this a problem that we have created (or made worse) or have modern people just put themselves into harm’s way by settling into flood prone areas?

Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:20 pm
Lots and lots of rain. Sure, there are other causes, but it rained like crazy for the past few weeks.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:21 pm
Didn’t they move/rebuild much of Hull to/on higher ground after 1993?

And yes, rain is the obvious cause, but IL Geologist makes a good point that maybe we ought to be expecting more rain in these parts now and our 100- and 500- year flood markers ought to be revisited.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:23 pm
With the levees protecting up river areas, the water has to go somewhere. If you prevent flooding by using levees, it just means that a large part of the rain upriver is pushed further down river, thereby creating higher and higher flood levels as that water is pushed down the river and you eventually need ever higher and higher levees. Especially as people move in to occupy areas in the river valleys.

Comment by Anon from BB Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:55 pm
Heavy rains causes floods. That’s perfectly natural. The problems created flooding are man made–the river is just doing what it does.

But to the excellent point Illinois Geologist makes, it’s the hundred year flood level at Grafton has been exceeded four times since 1973. The 25 year flood levels have been reached over 6 times in the last 25 times (and 1982 just fell off) including this year and that includes only floods over 32.90 feet because the historical crest information only goes that low, while the 25 year level is at 30.4 feet.

Same story if you look at other spots on the Illinois or Mississippi. Averages are tricky things, but those aren’t just making up for times when there weren’t periods with that high of water for 25 years. That’s a change in the basic structure of the river and patterns of weather that the Corps isn’t staying on top of.

Comment by archpundit Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 5:26 pm
There are multiple reasons for the flooding; the most basic is a lot of rain, and I won’t venture a guess on the impact of global warning on this. Levees do increase the flooding both for the reasons Archpundit cited and by trapping in the silt, which reduces the carrying capacity of the river. The 1993 flood at ST. Louis was less water but substantially higher than the 1973 flood.
Another factor is the increase in farmers tiling their fields. That water goes to the Rivers and increases flood heights.
Long-term we have removed almost all of the wetlands that would have absorbed excess rain; but when Ponce DeLeon first saw the Mississippi it was flooding.

Hull was not bought out, that was Valmeyer. Several thousand homes were bought out after the ‘93 flood. This will save all of us a lot of money and save the homeowner’s a lot of heartbreak.

Comment by mitigate Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 5:49 pm
===Ponce DeLeon first saw the Mississippi it was flooding.===

Um, huh? You talking about De Soto? LaSalle?

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 6:05 pm
Thanks Mitigate.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 6:05 pm
Actually, Ponce was poncing about down in Florida looking for eternal youth.

Unsuccesful — although I hear coffee and wine do wonders.

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 6:52 pm
Actually, Louis Jolliet, after whom the City of Joliet is named, was the first white man to explore and map the Mississippi River. This was back in 1673 when Illinois was still part of New France (and before it was part of New York, Virginia, Connecticut, the Northwest Territory, the Indiana Territory, or the Illinois Territory.)

Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 8:11 pm
DeSoto May 8, 1541

Squideshi:

Start with the Atchalafaya portion of Control of Natureby John McPhee. Also Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America by John Barry.

The Chinese have been chasing flood control on the Yellow River since before the birth of Christ.

Comment by HappyToaster Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 9:51 pm
Thanks for pointing out my error. It was DeSoto not DeLeon. He wrote about a major flood in the Memphis area that lasted from March to May 1543. He wrote “On account of these inundations of the river the people build their houses on high land …”

.

Comment by mitigate Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:26 pm
Rain is the immediate cause of the flooding, but humans are the root cause of the catastrophe.

1) We build in harms way
2) Human alteration of the watershed (farming & urbanization) puts the water in the river faster increasing the volume in the river after a storm
3) Human alteration of the river channel (wing dams, levees, etc.) tends to increase the stage height for the same volume.

Statistical analyses of the flood record is used to project the flood recurrence interval. Unfortunately, research indicates that the current models do not take into account human impact as well as they should. Plus, recasting the floodplain with higher projected elevations for the “design floods” (ie. 50-, 100- and 500-year) is politically unpopular.

If Rich puts up a new thread tomorrow, I’ll paste this plus a bit more.

Comment by Illinois Geologist Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:55 pm
When people call for a federal government buy out of those who live in the flood plain (and President Clinton considered this in ‘93), my response is that would be a fine idea as soon as people move out of the hurricane areas in Florida. Much more damage there on regular basis, but I never hear anyone propose that.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 4:50 am
Rising Tide is an excellent book. American Experience has a documentary based on it that’s worth putting on your Netflix list.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 8:43 am