Photo from Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection
Fears of the Birdland levee are all too present in the minds of Des Moines, Iowa residents who live near Saylorville Lake and the Des Moines River Valley. It was only two years ago that the levees broke and flooded the neighborhood.
Forecasts Call for Rain
As forecasters predict rainy weather, residents who live around Saylorville Lake prepare their homes and property for the worst. The “Des Moines Register” reports “engineers fret that weakened levees could slough off into the river as water levels drop, which could bring their block another catastrophic flood.”
Preparing for a Flood
Despite the anger residents may feel at the federal and city government for not having built a stronger levee, they must keep looking forward and prepare for what may come. With the news of the potential levee breach, residents prepared their homes by learning from their past mistakes and considering expert advice. This advice included the following:
Place all valuables on the second story of your home or in a safe location that is not in the path of the potential flood.
Secure items that have the potential to float away, such as gas tanks.
Know your local evacuation routes and the location of the nearest emergency shelters.
Be protected with not only homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, but with flood insurance as well.
Plan to recover. Keep the contact information for your insurance agency and policy numbers handy. In addition, have the contact information for a professional restoration company with you so they can help you remove the floodwaters from your home, which can quickly cause damaging mold growth if left untreated.
Rescuers began the morning of Saturday, June 12, 2010 in search of survivors after a devastating flash floodtook the lives of at least 19 people on Friday in a western Arkansas. CBS News reports that at least 200 rescuers trekked the terrain of the Albert Pike Campgrounds in search of signs of life.
Although the official day of summer is not yet here, it is officially hurricane season, which means heavy rains for many areas of the South until the month of November. Up to nine inches of rain fell on Friday in Alabama, which caused the Caddo and Little Missouri rivers to rise eight feet in an hour. Reports state the rivers went from a mere 3 feet to a deadly 23 feet in a matter of hours. The rushing waters that tore through the campground did not discriminate; they wiped away everything in its path.
Along with the rains are hot, muggy days, which made rescue efforts increasingly difficult. CBS News states, “The death toll rose Saturday and is expected to continue. One-third of the dead are children. Officials say recovery could take weeks.”
With hurricane season already here, it is important you bear in mind that hurricanes also come with tropical storms that pour buckets of rain in a short period of time. Even though the rains may not seem to last long compared to the drizzle of the fall season, they can be exponentially more deadly. As you prepare for this hurricane season, do not forget to keep the accompanying tropical storms in mind by making an emergency disaster plan.
The weekend storm in Tennessee has caused “Music City” to look like a series of small islands. The weekend storm claimed the lives of 28 people in the states of Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi. MSNBC reports officials fear the death toll may raise.
Flash floods caused thousands of residents and hotel guests to evacuate their homes. Also affected by the flood waters are the Country Music Hall of Fame and The Grand Ole Opry House as the Cumberland River rose 12 feet above flood stage.
MSNBC reports, “Though the rain stopped falling on Monday, the river continued to inch upward and authorities and volunteers in fishing boats, an amphibious tour bus and a canoe scooped up about 500 trapped vacationers at the Wyndham Resort along the river near Opryland.
“…Rescuers had to steer through a maze of underwater hazards including submerged cars, some with their tops barely visible above floodwaters the color of milk chocolate.”
Emergency shelters. There are seven shelters open across the city for folks who have been flooded out of their homes or stranded on the road somewhere. Check the list at Middle Tennessee Red Cross.
Flood assistance. Those in need of shelter or assistance can reach the Red Cross at (615) 250-4300. For non-emergencies, call (615) 862-8574.
Weather updates. The weather is expected to get worse over the next 24-36 hours with lots more rain on the way. Check your local forecast and sign up for text message or e-mail alerts over at The Weather Channel, see localized coverage at NashvilleWX, and tune into NOAA if you’ve got a weather radio handy. We also hear that 99.7 FM is giving great updates in case of a power outage.
Traffic. Roads are closing all over the city and traffic is a mess. Some of the best resources we’ve found have been the TDOT Smartmap and the Tennessean’s realtime traffic map. You can also read and share Nashville road closures and traffic conditions on Twitter @NashTraffic. For Franklin Road closures, follow @FranklinTraffic on Twitter.
After a wave of unusually high temperatures, a predicted thunderstorm blew through the western part of Oregon late Thursday afternoon. What was unpredicted was the severity of the storm and the damage it would cause in a matter of hours. As the skies suddenly darkened, rain began to pour and lightening crashed to the earth, splitting trees and even striking a 14-year-old boy that went outside to witness the storm.
Winds were clocked at as fast as 60 mph in some parts of state as residents were warned to stay indoors. Many funnel clouds were spotted and residents of the small town of Newberg swear a tornado made an uninvited visit to their neighborhood, prompting a visit from curious agents from the National Weather Service.
Parts of the Oregon capital, Salem, were underwater as the intense rainfall prompted flashfloods to rush the city. The water was so high in some parts of the city that it covered cars stalled by the flood. Homes and businesses were affected by the flooding and are now cleaning-up as a result of the water damage.
Oregon, being a naturally wet and rainy state, will have to focus on mold controlduring the flood clean-up. A Salem church affected by the flood waters called in flood restoration specialists that brought in water vacuums and special fans to help dry-out the building.
When one imagines Hawaii, one thinks of sun, perfect beaches, drinks in a pineapple, volcanoes, and lots of green plants every where. However, if one were to visit the state today, they would really see rain, rain, and more rain.
Central Oahu received about a foot of rain yesterday, according to the Honolulu Advertiser. However, parts of Hawaii that were suffering from a drought received up to three inches: an answer to many prayers.
Flash flood watches will remain in effect through the weekend.
