Officials preparing for coming floods

Flood alerts are going out from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineersabout flood events in mid-June.

"This will affect every community and farm along the entireMissouri River Basin," said Brig. Gen. John McMahon, corps divisioncommander.

Local officials are preparing as high water along the Missouri isprojected to last into July.

"Buchanan County is taking a proactive response and I've alreadycontacted the Red Cross to bring them up to speed," said BillBrinton, the county's emergency management officer. "We're going tomake sure everyone's aware of what's going on."

Federal officials reported that the Gavins Point Dam on the SouthDakota/Nebraska state line is releasing 73,000 cubic feet persecond. But the Missouri River at St. Joseph is already flowing at144,000 cubic feet per second.

The corps is predicting that between June 17 and 19 the river atSt. Joseph will be flowing at between 215,000 cubic feet per secondand 320,000 cubic feet per second.

Saturday, the corps activated its emergency offices in Omaha andKansas City and began holding daily conference calls withstakeholders to provide the latest information and advance warnings.

"It's not if, but when the flood will come," said MarkSitherwood, Holt County presiding county commissioner.

"Water moving like that puts a whole new light on things."

Holt County activated its emergency center Monday morning, Mr.Sitherwood said. County officials and emergency management peopleare worried about the water plants at Craig and Forest City.

A number of levees in Holt County are identified as beingpotential candidates for the Missouri River to overflow sometime inthe next three weeks. Corps officials are advising residents alongthe Missouri River to get their belongings to higher ground. By June20, the Missouri River is predicted to overtop a number of leveessouth of Omaha.

"We are working closely with state and local emergency managementteams to identify potential flood areas," said Mr. McMahon.

Since Friday, the corps has raised the water release estimate atGavins Point from 110,000 to 150,000 cubic feet per second. There isthe potential for scouring and erosion underneath some levees whenthe river is moving in excess of 100,000 cubic feet per second,corps officials said. Erosion could cause a levee to collapse longbefore it is overtopped by the Missouri River.

Buchanan County commissioners will meet with Mr. Brinton today.

Buchanan County will pick up another 100,000 sandbags, Mr.Brinton said.

The corps has begun posting maps of potential flood areas ontheir Internet site at www.now.usace.army.mil.

People can click on the words Spring 2011 Flood ResponseInformation.

Marshall White can be reached at marshall.white@newspressnow.com.