Missouri River

Post by **Brad** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 10:13 pm

They just closed I29 from Crescent to Loveland.

DeWalt · Post by **DeWalt** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 8:03 am

Brad wrote:They just closed I29 from Crescent to Loveland.

Drove through there yesterday (Thursday) at about 5:30. The water was almost on the pavement. The westbound exit from I-29 to I-680 (61A I think) was already closed. I redneck U-Turned over toward Crescent and came back to Omaha on 680. I'm surprised I got through. The County Road exits were closed.

This is some freaky and scary stuff.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 8:06 am

680 is now closed too.

DeWalt · Post by **DeWalt** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 8:08 am

Brad wrote:680 is now closed too.

From Mormon Bridge to I-29?

It's not closed up north, from I-29 to I-80, is it?

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 8:09 am

DeWalt wrote:
Brad wrote:680 is now closed too.
From Mormon Bridge to I-29?

It's not closed up north, from I-29 to I-80, is it?

Correct. 29 to 80 is now the detour.

DeWalt · Post by **DeWalt** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 8:23 am

Brad wrote:
DeWalt wrote:
Brad wrote:680 is now closed too.
From Mormon Bridge to I-29?

It's not closed up north, from I-29 to I-80, is it?
Correct. 29 to 80 is now the detour.

Good! So far, anyway.

My daughter & son-in-law are headed to Brookings, SD tonight after work. I'm hoping they can hit Blair, then over to Missouri Valley, then up I-29. Have you heard if that's still open?

And do you know anything about flooding/closings in Sioux City?

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 11:16 am

I saw a woman getting arrested (handcuffed... placed in sheriff deputy vehicle) at the entrance to Surfside last night.

Am I the only one who continues to be amazed at the complete neglect of the Missouri River flood story by the national media?

I'm pretty sure there are far more people being affected by it than the Arizona wild fires. I guess it doesn't produce the same impressive images.

Heck, even a Mississippi River 'silt' story made it on the front page of USA Today... but nothing on flooding on the Missouri.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/floods/ ... ping_n.htm

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 11:28 am

Jeff, I am guessing it will be a national story when the Levee's break or towns flood or someone dies. Until then, its just a lot of water to the rest of the country. Also, this year has had some really extreme weather so this probably seems like nothing compared to what Joplin, Alabama and other places have seen. Next weekend the 18th when things reach the peak, we might start seeing more.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 11:32 am

Yeah, it's pretty hard to compete with stuff like this...

I did notice, following the rain the other day... that my car was covered in 'soot'.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:15 pm

Missouri will rise higher than predicted at Blair, Neb.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... blair-neb/

desmoinesregister wrote:BLAIR, Neb. (AP) – The Missouri River is now expected to rise 2 feet higher at Blair, Neb., than experts predicted previously.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it revised its prediction for the river near Blair because of new information it received about how fast the water is moving at that point.

GetUrban · Post by **GetUrban** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:50 pm

Stargazer wrote:
Well you surly don't have to worry about that. Some up stream levee breach will take care of that.

??? not sure what you mean.
I assume he's suggesting that an upstream levee breach would provide a little relief downstream.

The levee protecting Omaha extends west into the bluffs north & south of Omaha, on the Nebraska side. So at those points, the higher elevations of the bluffs themselves become our protection. Any other levee breeches north or south of those junctures should not have an effect on Omaha

Let's just hope the Omaha levee and flood walls hold up.....there's a lot riding on that. It seems the river has been exceeding the Corps predictions regularly. Pray for drought!...for a while.

Mr.Nuke · Post by **Mr.Nuke** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:04 pm

nativeomahan wrote:This will get interesting in the coming couple of weeks. What is so incredibly unusual about this flood is that it is taking place in super slow motion. Most floods are in and out in a day or two. This seems to be going to take a month or more to play out. The difference is that the land below may be devastated, with all of the trees and other plant life killed. I guess time will tell.

Most river floods don't have 6 major upstream dams.

Post by **nebugeater** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 1:34 am

A few things from June 9

Haworth park area in Belllevue

Omaha area Flood June 9 002 by nebugeater, on Flickr

Omaha area Flood June 9 001 by nebugeater, on Flickr

Omaha area Flood June 9 004 by nebugeater, on Flickr

Farmland in Iowa along Hwy 370

Omaha area Flood June 9 018 by nebugeater, on Flickr

Railroad pulling all the crossing arms and controls in the Lake Manawa area in Council Bluffs Iowa.

Omaha area Flood June 9 021 by nebugeater, on Flickr

Omaha area Flood June 9 026 by nebugeater, on Flickr

Flagmen are setting up camp. Looks to be setting up for a long assignment by what was along the roads.

Omaha area Flood June 9 023 by nebugeater, on Flickr

Post by **nebugeater** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 1:46 am

House East of the River in Iowa along Hwy 275

Omaha area Flood June 9 030 by nebugeater, on Flickr

Nebraska Side below the South Omaha Bridge

Omaha area Flood June 9 046 by nebugeater, on Flickr

Omaha area Flood June 9 049 by nebugeater, on Flickr

TLGJames · Post by **TLGJames** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 9:16 am

I think hayworth park is pretty cool, but how many more times is it going to flood before they give up on it?

Post by **nebugeater** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 10:37 am

TLGJames wrote:I think hayworth park is pretty cool, but how many more times is it going to flood before they give up on it?

I guess at least one more.

cp jay 07 · Post by **cp jay 07** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 10:50 am

Stargazer wrote:Am I the only one who continues to be amazed at the complete neglect of the Missouri River flood story by the national media?

I'm pretty sure there are far more people being affected by it than the Arizona wild fires. I guess it doesn't produce the same impressive images.

I'm pretty sure the Wildfire is affecting far more people than the flood that has hit just a few spots.

The city of Albuquerque has to pretty much shut down every night at 7 if the smoke is bad, which it has been all week. The smoke is also affecting Denver, cities in Texas, Kansas and I even heard Omaha and Nebraska was getting some of it now.

I can tell you Albuquerque smells like a giant bonfire every night and you have to stay in and keep all windows closed, and we are still 300 miles away from the fire. It's pretty bad down here.

As anyone heard anything more on Epply though, I am flying back on the 30th and keep hearing everything is fine but I have also heard the water is getting pretty close.

HuskerDave · Post by **HuskerDave** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 10:53 am

cp jay 07 wrote:
Stargazer wrote:Am I the only one who continues to be amazed at the complete neglect of the Missouri River flood story by the national media?

I'm pretty sure there are far more people being affected by it than the Arizona wild fires. I guess it doesn't produce the same impressive images.

I'm pretty sure the Wildfire is affecting far more people than the flood that has hit just a few spots.

The city of Albuquerque has to pretty much shut down every night at 7 if the smoke is bad, which it has been all week. The smoke is also affecting Denver, cities in Texas, Kansas and I even heard Omaha and Nebraska was getting some of it now.

I can tell you Albuquerque smells like a giant bonfire every night and you have to stay in and keep all windows closed, and we are still 300 miles away from the fire. It's pretty bad down here.

As anyone heard anything more on Epply though, I am flying back on the 30th and keep hearing everything is fine but I have also heard the water is getting pretty close.

Eppley should be in the clear. The levees are holding.

Post by **nebugeater** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 6:08 pm

A few from the morning of the 11th

Missouri Omaha June 11209 by nebugeater, on Flickr

Missouri Omaha June 11206 by nebugeater, on Flickr

Missouri Omaha June 11212 by nebugeater, on Flickr

Missouri Omaha June 11202 by nebugeater, on Flickr

I am guessing that this qualifies as a WET WEATHER CONDITION

Missouri Omaha June 11200 by nebugeater, on Flickr[/img]

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 1:37 am

The river was noticeably higher tonight than in your pictures from yesterday nebugeater. It is a sight to see.

Post by **nebugeater** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 7:17 am

iamjacobm wrote:The river was noticeably higher tonight than in your pictures from yesterday nebugeater. It is a sight to see.

They were taken about 9AM

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:18 am

High water will hit Tuesday in southeast, but levee watch is long term

The Missouri River's rising and intensifying current in southeast South Dakota will reach maximum force Tuesday, bringing more inevitable damage to homes dealing with groundwater and seepage from earthen levee systems.

http://www.argusleader.com/article/2011 ... /106120325

Bryan1117 · Post by **Bryan1117** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 4:17 pm

Some pictures from the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge today. Around 2pm, a deck was seen in the swollen Missouri River as it passed the bridge - took a couple pictures of it... was quite a sight to see - and I am sure there will plenty more to see in the coming days, unfortunately.

image host

image uploader

image host

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 4:25 pm

Wow - that's quite a garbage delivery system they have.

Post by **Brad** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 5:08 pm

Great Photos Everyone! Thanks for the Updates!

Tornado · Post by **Tornado** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 5:31 pm

Just got back from taking photos down at the Pedestrian bridge and the water is now well over the handrails on the labor sculpture. The river is really starting to rise quickly now. I couldn't believe how packed the riverfront and bridge area were today with people checking out the flood etc, lots of activity.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 6:21 pm

for those on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/MissouriRiverFlood2011

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 6:23 pm

or

http://www.facebook.com/OmahaUSACE

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 9:51 pm

This is already one for the history books.

Bryan1117 · Post by **Bryan1117** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 10:04 pm

I posted my pictures of the deck floating down the river on KETV's uLocal page and got a response from the owner of the cabin where the "floating" deck originated from! The deck came down from near Honey Creek, IA so this had already been in the river for 15-20 miles... wonder how much further it will make it downstream?

http://ulocal.ketv.com/_Deck-in-the-Mis ... 62922.html

I am hoping to make it back down to the riverfront later this week, as according to forecasts, the river will be approaching 33 feet. It appears that the way things are going, with the heavy rains upstream in the Dakotas and Montana continuing, that the river might actually make it to the high end of the crest projection - 36 feet by the beginning of July. This one is definitely going down in the record books before event's end!

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 10:49 pm

Tornado wrote:Just got back from taking photos down at the Pedestrian bridge and the water is now well over the handrails on the labor sculpture. The river is really starting to rise quickly now. I couldn't believe how packed the riverfront and bridge area were today with people checking out the flood etc, lots of activity.

I have never seen the bridge as busy as it was tonight. Not sure if it is people coming out to see the flood waters or what but it was absolutely packed.

Post by **nebugeater** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 2:32 am

There was a small houseboat that got away somewhere caught up in the trees on the Iowa bank of the Missouri probably 100 yards South of the S Omaha Bridge. This was / is there on Sun evening the 12th

Omaha area Flood June 12 019 by nebugeater, on Flickr

Omaha area Flood June 12 021 by nebugeater, on Flickr

The BN Gibson yards are basically shut down. few rails cars and Engines still here but not more than can be removed in a hurry. As I understand it the operations have move to Lincoln until this is over.

Omaha area Flood June 12 012 by nebugeater, on Flickr

Omaha area Flood June 12 011 by nebugeater, on Flickr

S33 · Post by **S33** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 11:30 am

Speaking of BNSF... anyone else notice the massive construction project from Plattsmouth toll bridge through Pacific Junction on toward Glenwood, to tear out existing railroad tracks, build upward ten or so feet higher, then to lay new tracks to avoid months worth of stoppage? It also looks as though they are stockpiling much more coal than usual and getting ready to barricade the power plant.

Bryan1117 · Post by **Bryan1117** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 11:33 am

More bad news - the levee has given way west of Hamburg, IA (WOWT.com reports the breach is 60 feet wide and rapidly growing, in these situations it won't take long for much of the levee to give way unfortunately)... appears that parts of the town and the stretch of Interstate 29 in that area are in serious jeopardy.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 11:39 am

That's not good!

S33 · Post by **S33** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 11:43 am

Bryan1117 wrote:More bad news - the levee has given way west of Hamburg, IA (WOWT.com reports the breach is 60 feet wide and rapidly growing, in these situations it won't take long for much of the levee to give way unfortunately)... appears that parts of the town and the stretch of Interstate 29 in that area are in serious jeopardy.

Which is exactly why I found it insane that nobody is worried about the levee giving here in the metro, or more specifically, downtown Omaha/CB. They are Earthen levees, and with the months and months of flood-stage river levels, they are bound to saturate and give way...right?

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 12:14 pm

S33 wrote:nobody is worried about the levee giving here in the metro

Don't lump me in with "nobody". I'm feeling fortunate my office is on the 2nd floor, but I'm hoping the dirt up this way stays intact. I've seen what high waters do to the bank on the Iowa side and it's not that great once current gets up there.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:34 pm

S33 wrote:
Bryan1117 wrote:More bad news - the levee has given way west of Hamburg, IA (WOWT.com reports the breach is 60 feet wide and rapidly growing, in these situations it won't take long for much of the levee to give way unfortunately)... appears that parts of the town and the stretch of Interstate 29 in that area are in serious jeopardy.
Which is exactly why I found it insane that nobody is worried about the levee giving here in the metro, or more specifically, downtown Omaha/CB. They are Earthen levees, and with the months and months of flood-stage river levels, they are bound to saturate and give way...right?

Months and months? I've called USACE, the emergency operations center, city of Council Bluffs, and they have all said river levels are expected to be at normal levels (approx. 18 feet) in September. That means that the elevated levels will be around for roughly 6-8 weeks, with the peak levels set to occur now through the middle of July once water starts to recede. With that, they also said that, as far as the Omaha metro is concerned, the weakest levees are those south of Council Bluffs that border Lake Manawa & I-29 south. The power plant has been building up reserves of coal, and they said it could run for 2 months on the amount of reserve coal they have...with no new arrivals.

Is it a concern? Yes. Is it an even bigger concern for southeastern Council Bluffs/areas immediately south? Yes-yes.

For what its worth: if the levees should fail in the northern/western portions of Council Bluffs, they have plans to sandbag 25th street at I-29, ave G west of 35th street at I-29, 2nd/9th ave at I-29, and the entrance to Ameristar under I-29 to create another levee. They told me the interstates there are higher even still than the levees at the river.

S33 · Post by **S33** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 2:04 pm

I guess I was under the impression (and swore I heard many, many times), that because of the existing snow-pack in the west/northwest of us, that these river levels would be around through the fall months. I also know that some residents from Hamburg north to Pacific Junction/Plattsmouth have been told they are likely not going to be able to return to their homes until after the first of the year.

Aside from that subject: It would appear as though homeowners are being told that flood insurance only includes acts of nature, and that the Army Corp of Engineers' decision to protect wildlife habitat, thus waiting to release water from the dams and consequently flooding large swaths of land to their south, is not covered in their homeowner's policies. Should get interesting.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:20 pm

S33 wrote:Aside from that subject: It would appear as though homeowners are being told that flood insurance only includes acts of nature, and that the Army Corp of Engineers' decision to protect wildlife habitat, thus waiting to release water from the dams and consequently flooding large swaths of land to their south, is not covered in their homeowner's policies. Should get interesting.

Yeah, i heard that as well; when i called on flood insurance last month, they said that you have to pay the annual premium ($324) up front, and has to be in place for 30 days. What they didn't tell me was that you have to wait 30 days after that to file a claim. And eeeeeven after that, some neighbors of mine were, in fact, told that it was a man-made event, and they'd be s.o.l.