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June 2008 Midwest floods

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June 2008 Midwest Flood
Map of river flooding as of June 10th, 2008.
DateJune 7 - Ongoing
LocationIllinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin
Deaths13 Deaths
Property damageTBD

On June 4, 2008 severe thunderstorms began to impact the upper Midwestern United States. Tornadoes, hail, severe lighting, and rain led to major damage to much of the region. Flash flooding led to the evacuation on thousands of home in low lying areas. The situation worsened as rain continued on June 5.

Illinois

June 2008 Illinois Flood
DateJune 7 - Ongoing
Deaths0 Deaths
Property damageTBD


At least two tornadoes touched down on the south side of Chicago cause extensive damage to several city blocks.

On June 10 several levees broke in northeastern Illinois flooding around 75 square miles of farmland.

Indiana

June 2008 Indiana Flood
House on the Southern Johnson County, Indiana line underwater due to flooding
DateJune 7 - Ongoing
Deaths3 Deaths
Property damageTBD

Central and southwestern Indiana was particularly hard hit, damage costs are expected to make the flooding the costliest disaster in the history of the state. Starting on June 4, 2008, rain soaked parts of south-central Indiana leading to initial floods in and around Bloomington. Additional rain on June 7 brought the worst of the flooding to larger portions of south-central and western Indiana. The highest recorded rainfall amount was in the town of Edinburgh, which saw 10.94 inches of rain in just seven hours. Paragon saw 10 inches of rain in just a few hours, leaving 90% of the town underwater[1]. National Weather Service hydrologist Al Shipe says some parts of the state could see flooding that approaches record levels set in 1913.[2] On June 9, President George W. Bush declared 29 counties in central Indiana a major disaster area opening up the region to receive federal aid and Federal Emergency Measures Agencyassistance.[3]

Impact

Many low-lying areas of central and northern Indiana were evacuated because of the rapid rise of the waters. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels declared a state of emergency in 23 counties[4] and called in the United States Coast Guard to assist in evacuations and rescues. The Coast Guard responded by sending two helicopters to the state along with boats and personnel. The Indiana National Guard was called out to assist in evacuation and direct traffic and enforce road blocks on the many flooded roads. Some areas of southern Indianapolis, where the White River was several feet past flood stage, were evacuated including a hospital with one hundred patients and doctors. The Coast Guard were continuing to rescue trapped citizens on June 8. In Franklin, Indiana water rose as high as the first floor of Johnson Memorial Hospital.[5] Doctors and patients were also evacuated from Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, Indiana. The hospital closed for an extended period of time because of power outages and generator failures. All patients were evacuated and moved to nearby hospitals. One hundred and fifty people were evacuated from a nursing home in Morgan County.

The dam at Prince's Lake failed on June 7 threatening the community of Nineveh, Indiana. On June 8 the Wabash Valley between Lafayette and Terre Haute, Indiana was placed under flood alert and all residents near the Wabash River were urged to evacuate their homes. Looting was reported in Seymour, Indiana where the White River had overflowed its banks forcing the evacuation of over one hundred homes. Governor Daniels dispatched extra state police to the city to curb the looting. On June 10, five hundred members of the Kentucky National Guard were mobilized to assist Indiana in coping with the flood damage and rescuing stranded citizens. The same day floodwaters raised above record levels in at least five localities. In others the rising waters were near or at the historic 1913 flood levels. The flooding was the worst in Indiana's modern history according to Scott Morlock, a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Indiana.

Many roads were closed because of high water, including Interstate 65, which was closed southbound at the interchange with Interstate 465 through Seymour.

Deaths

One man drowned in flood waters near Remington, Indiana.

Two deaths have been reported in Columbus, Indiana. The first was confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security on June 8.[6] On June 9, the body of a Cummins employee was discovered a mile from where he was sighted swept away by floodwaters. [7]

Cost

With as much as 300 square miles of the state underwater, Emergency Management Director Forrest Sutton suggested on June 8 that the flood may be the costliest disaster to ever strike the state.

Iowa

June 2008 Iowa Flood
Looking towards downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on June 12
DateJune 7 - Ongoing
Deaths1 Deaths
Property damageTBD

While the Great Flood of 1993 was greater in continental terms, in local Iowa terms, the June, 2008 Midwest floods were greater. Cedar Rapids by early morning June 13, had 2008 history-breaking high water, reaching about 33 feet above flood stage and flooding most of the historic downtown area, including Mays Island, which is essentially the civic center, housing the city hall, county courthouse, county jail and the United States court house.

The Cedar River is tributary to the Iowa River, but only way downstream. Iowa City, Iowa, in the meantime, is in the process of defending itself against equally historic high water. In particular, the University of Iowa is currently (and frantically) moving all valuable things above the expected flood stage; while sandbagging is in progress, serious treasures have been moved out of harms way.

Downriver, Wapello, Iowa would be the next seriously impacted community (county seat of Louisa County, Iowa), as it lies just downriver from the confluence of the Iowa and Cedar. Once these floodwaters reach the Upper Mississippi River, the media predict all sorts of bad things for river towns on the Mississippi beneath them.

Severe flooding in Iowa led to evacuations of many homes. In eastern Iowa along the Iowa River and Cedar River, flooding is expected to exceed that of the Flood of 1993.[8] Flooding also forced the closure of a number of roads throughout the state, reaching the point where travel was not advised in some parts of the state.

On Monday, June 9 the Upper Iowa River in Decorah flooded when a levee was breached. Up to 6 inches (152 mm) of rain had fallen in the 48 hours prior. The water flooded parts of the lower campus of Luther College, damaging athletic fields and the Regents Center. Winneshiek County officials called this the worst flood to occur in Decorah since the current levee system was put in place in the 1940s.[9]

In Cedar Falls, officials were readying residents and downtown business owners to evacuate as the Cedar River threatened to spill over a levee. The river was expected to top the levee June 11, prompting a mandatory evacuation of downtown.[10] All of the bridges over the Cedar River in downtown Cedar Rapids were closed at 8:00 pm CDT (0100 UTC) on June 11.[11] On June 12, a levee broke, a railroad bridge was swept away along with loaded rail cars, 100 city blocks were submerged downtown, and 10,000 people were evacuated.[12] In Waterloo, fast-moving water swept away a railroad bridge used to transport tractors from a John Deere factory to Cedar Rapids. It also prompted the city to shut its downtown and close five bridges.[10] The Black Hawk County Emergency Management Agency recommended the evacuation of the Cedar Terrace Neighborhood in Southeast Waterloo on June 10.[13] Because of the severe flooding in east-central Iowa, officials with U.S. Postal Service's Des Moines-based Hawkeye District suspended all Retail, Post Office Box and Mail Caller Services at the Waterloo Main Post Office.[14]

On June 12, an mandatory evacuation was issued for the Normandy Drive area of Iowa City.[15] An evacuation of two streets in Coralville was also issued, with the expectatons of completing it by 5:00 pm CDT (2200 UTC) on June 12.[16] One person died in the Iowa flooding.[17] A section of Interstate 80 was closed in Cedar County due to flooding. [18]

Michigan

June 2008 Michigan Flood
DateJune 7 - Ongoing
Deaths8 Deaths
Property damageTBD

Several Tornadoes touched down in southern Michigan and flooding led to evacuation of many homes. At least eight people died in the flooding.

Minnesota

Approximately 75 homes in Preston, Minnesota suffered water damaage from excessive rainfall. Some residents were evacuated in Hayfield, Minnesota after the Zumbro River flooded. The Cedar River also flooded, which threatened to cause problems in Austin, Minnesota. One man died when his vehicle plunged into a flooded creek near Albert Lea.[19]

Missouri

June 2008 Missouri Flood
DateJune 10 - Ongoing
Deaths0 Deaths
Property damageTBD

The deluge of storms led to a quick rise of water on the Mississippi River which saw water crest ten feet above flood stage in Hannibal, Missouri on June 10. The National Weather Service predicted that the flood stage could be higher in the next two weeks. Most of the towns near the river are protected by levees, but outlying areas are vunerable to flooding.[10]

Wisconsin

June 2008 Wisconsin Flood
DateJune 7 - Ongoing
LocationAdams, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Lafayette, La Crosse, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha and Winnebago counties.[20]
Deaths0 Deaths
Property damageTBD

Eleven tornadoes touched down in Wisconsin on Saturday, June 7. Continued heavy rains led to the Dell creek bypassing the dam holding Lake Delton. The lake is now nearly empty and the escaping flood water created a new channel for the Wisconsin River about a quarter mile away from the dam. Wisconsin National Guard engineers began repairs on the dam the same day, but the repairs are not expected to be completed for over a year.

The Kickapoo River rose several feet above flood stage destroying most of the town of Gays Mills.

Westbound lanes of Interstate 94 were closed between Johnson Creek and Lake Mills on June 10, 2008 at 7 PM because of the rising Rock River.[21]

Flooding has also affected the communities on the Baraboo River. The town of North Freedom had all but one road into town closed because of flooding. The flooding forced the closure of the Mid-Continent Railway Museum.[22][23]

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle declared a state of emergency in thirty counties on June 9 due to the flooding. FEMA inspectors are due to examine areas that suffered the most damage.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=8447831
  2. ^ http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=8445680
  3. ^ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,364282,00.html
  4. ^ http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080608/NEWS/80608002
  5. ^ CTV.ca News Staff. "Southern Indiana braces for flash flooding". CTV.ca. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  6. ^ http://www.theindychannel.com/news/16542019/detail.html
  7. ^ http://therepublic.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=111&ArticleID=121055
  8. ^ Iowa City Press-Citizen. "Officials: Flood of 2008 to be worse than Flood of '93". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  9. ^ http://www.luther.edu/newsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions+Content&WorkflowItemID=28551913-cd07-485f-ab36-77ea2f5df912
  10. ^ a b c "Mississippi River floods could be worst in 15 years". CNN. 2008-06-10. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  11. ^ "2nd Ave Bridge to Close by 8:00pm". KCRG-TV. 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  12. ^ "Cedar River blasts records; residents flee; rail cars fall". The Des Moines Register. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  13. ^ "Recommended Evacuation of SE Waterloo Neighborhood". KCRG-TV. 2008-06-10. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  14. ^ "Flood Forces Waterloo Post Office to Suspend All Retail Operations". KCRG-TV. 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  15. ^ "Mandatory Evacuation for Normandy Drive in Iowa City". KCRG-TV. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
  16. ^ "MANDATORY EVACUATION: Two Streets in Coralville Told to Leave by Morning". KCRG-TV. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
  17. ^ "Flash Floods Inundate Wisconsin Town, Homes Washed Away; Heat Roasts East". Fox news. 2008-06-10. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  18. ^ "Cedar County section of I-80 to close at 8 p.m. tonight". The Gazette. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
  19. ^ http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=514314
  20. ^ a b Novak, Bill (2008-06-11). "FEMA to view flood damage; state of emergency in 30 counties". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2008-06-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ WKOW Madison. Interstate 94 to close westbound at Johnson Creek. June 10, 2008.
  22. ^ "Welcome to Mid-Continent - NEWS BULLETIN UPDATE". Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  23. ^ "North Freedom: Historic Flood". WMTV. 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2008-06-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
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