Flooding

June 13, 2008 -- Heavy rain and flooding in the west central part of Michigan overnight has caused the Department of Natural Resources to temporarily close Ludington State Park.

Campers that have reservations at Ludington State Park this evening or over the weekend are being contacted by DNR Central Reservation System staff. Campers who have been impacted by the recent storms will receive full refunds and will not be charged the cancellation fee.

According to local weather reports, this area of the northern Lower Peninsula received one foot of rain. Ludington is without power and some of the roads leading into the park are flooded and impassable. Park staff at Ludington encouraged campers to vacate the park and most did of their own accord.    » read more »

June 15, 2008 -- JOHNSTON - Below is the latest update on flooding in Iowa.

I. AREAS OF CONCERN
*NEW* Waterloo
Due to overnight severe weather in Northeastern Iowa, there are power outages in Black Hawk County.

Des Moines
750 National Guard soldiers are currently deployed in Des Moines.

Last night a levee breach in Des Moines’ Birdland Park Neighborhood resulted in the evacuation of more than 200 homes.

North High School is flooded.

Reported numbers in shelters by American Red Cross: Harding Middle School, 40 people; Callanan School, 5 people

Coralville
Members of the Coast Guard Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) assisted with getting recreational boats and three people out of the water in Coralville.

Iowa City    » read more »

Announce creation of www.flood2008.iowa.gov as a resource for latest information on flooding

June 15, 2008 -- JOHNSTON – Today at the Joint Forces Headquarters, Iowa Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Judge announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a Presidential Disaster Declaration for individual assistance for 6 new Iowa counties – Cedar, Jones, Louisa, Muscatine, Polk, and Winneshiek

Iowa River flooding, Amana, Iowa: Photo by BitHead (CC)    » read more »

June 15, 2008 -- Paris, France -- THE PRESIDENT: Laura and I had the joy of worshiping here in Paris. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who are suffering from the floods in our country; I know there's a lot of people hurting right now and I hope they're able to find some strength in knowing that there is love from a higher being.

President George W. Bush and Laura Bush: President George W. Bush and Laura Bush talk with reporters after attending Sunday morning church service at the American Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Paris June 15, 2008. White House photo by Eric Draper

Also I want to wish all the fathers in America happy Father's Day. So Dad, if you're listening, happy Father's Day.    » read more »

15 June 2008 -- Chinese state meteorologists say heavy rains are likely to worsen floods that have killed at least 57 people and forced about 1.3 million others to flee their homes.

Torrential rains have battered eastern and southern China over the past week. The prosperous southern province of Guangdong has been the hardest-hit. China's official Xinhua news agency says rains have killed at least 20 people there.

Xinhua says the flooding in the Pearl River delta is the worst in 50 years. It says the rains have washed away some roads and submerged farmland across nine provinces. Many areas have been hit by landslides.

More rain is expected in the area over the next 10 days.    » read more »

15 June 2008 -- Rain-swollen rivers in parts of the central U.S. state of Iowa are beginning to recede, as residents try to get their first close-up look at devastation left behind by several days of flooding. Governor Chet Culver says the flooding has caused "massive" losses totaling in the billions of dollars.

Coast Guard assists with Iowa flooding, June 2008: Photo by Coast Guard News (CC)    » read more »

INDIANAPOLIS – With the help of an advanced counterdrug aircraft, the Indiana National Guard has received live footage of flood damage throughout the state to assist with missions and help local governments plan to repair the damage.

Reconnaissance Cargo 26B aircraft used to photograph Indiana flood damage: The 130th Airlift Wing out of Charleston, W.V., flew the Reconnaissance Cargo - 26B (RC-26B) aircraft over Indiana June 11 to provide aerial footage of flood for the public. US Army photo by Staff Sgt. Marvin Cornell    » read more »

June 10, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Barack Obama and Dick Durbin today released the following statement after Governor Rod Blagojevich directed the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) to coordinate emergency response efforts along the Embarras and Wabash rivers in southeastern Illinois.

"We commend Governor Blagojevich for quickly directing state emergency personnel and resources to Lawrenceville and Westport after levees were breached early this morning.

"Our thoughts are with those families and individuals who have experienced property damage and those who were forced to evacuate. We will do everything we can to ensure these communities can recover and rebuild as soon as possible."

Source: Senators Barack Obama

Chicago, IL -- June 11, 2008 -- "Before we begin, I just wanted to say a word about the flooding devastating so many communities. We were scheduled to be holding this event in Iowa, but we decided to cancel it because we didn't want to divert state resources from going to help with flood relief.

Barack Obama poster, San Francisco: Photo by january20th2009 (CC)    » read more »

June 11, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement in response to major flooding in the Midwest.

"My heart goes out to the families in Illinois and across the Midwest, who have been forced to flee their own homes, and leave their businesses and communities behind.

Rising flood waters, Appleton: Photo by lynnewu (CC)

Right now, many of them are wondering when they'll be able to return, and what they'll find when they get there.    » read more »

Relief efforts underway throughout Midwest, but also in West Virginia

WASHINGTON -- June 09, 2008 -- Storms and heavy rainfall have caused serious flash flooding in already saturated areas of the central United States. In response, the American Red Cross has mobilized relief workers to six states in the devastated areas.

Flooded midwestern home: Photo by cabakus (CC)

Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss.    » read more »

Widespread Flooding Throughout Wisconsin Causes Road Closures and Evacuations

June 09, 2008 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle tonight declared a state of emergency for 29 counties due to severe storms and flooding.

Flooding in Milwaukee area, Wisconsin, June 2008: Photo by Tracy Apps (CC)

The counties include: Adams, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Lafayette, LaCrosse, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, and Winnebago Counties.    » read more »

39 counties now under a Governor’s Emergency Proclamation

June 9, 2008 -- (DES MOINES) - Today, Iowa Governor Chet Culver added eight counties to the list of counties that have been proclaimed emergency disaster areas. The additional counties are: Mitchell, Clayton, Kossuth, Wright, Hamilton, Bremer, Linn, and Iowa.

The list previously included: Fremont, Page, Montgomery, Adams, Union, Clarke, Marion, Johnson, Jasper, Polk, Dallas, Crawford, Boone, Story, Marshall, Tama, Benton, Dubuque, Delaware, Buchanan, Blackhawk, Hardin, Webster, Humboldt, Franklin, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Chickasaw, Winneshiek and Worth.    » read more »

June 9, 2008 -- George W. Bush yesterday declared a major disaster exists in the State of Indiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning on June 6, 2008, and continuing.

Flooding in Columbus, Indiana, June 2008: Photo by Glenn J. Ward (CC)    » read more »

AUGUSTA, Maine, June 3, 2008 -- Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to people whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of the recent severe storms and flooding in Aroostook and Penobscot Counties. Those who were prevented from starting a new job or self-employment, or who are no longer working normal hours due to this disaster may also qualify for DUA assistance.

The deadline to register for DUA is approaching. Residents of Aroostook County must apply by June 13 and residents of Penobscot County must apply by June 18.    » read more »