Floods

Calls on Legislature to pass IJOBS Plan to further recovery efforts

April 21, 2009 -- IOWA CITY – Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed legislation today to help Iowa homeowners affected by last year’s flood. Senate File 289 reduces the amount of time, from 10 years to 5 years, state-funded Jumpstart Iowa recipients must stay in their homes before their entire Jumpstart loan is forgiven.    » read more »

Project includes $5 million in stimulus money, creates 150 jobs

April 17, 2009 -- Kentucky at WorkLOUISVILLE, Ky. – The West Louisville Pumping Station, a 50-year-old system which protects 135,000 homes from flooding, will be rebuilt, thanks in part to federal economic stimulus dollars.

Gov. Steve Beshear has dedicated $5 million in state stimulus money for the project, which will be matched by $12 million from the Metropolitan Sewer District, the agency that will oversee the work.

The project will completely renovate the pumping station, at 1300 Southwestern Parkway in the Chickasaw neighborhood, by replacing seven large pumps, motors, drives and electrical switch gears. Expected to take 18 months, the project will create 150 jobs.    » read more »

April 14, 2009 -- Saint Paul – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced today that the Presidential major disaster declaration for Minnesota now includes federal relief and recovery assistance for Roseau, Otter Tail, Pennington, Red Lake, Grant, Lake, Wadena and Mahnomen counties. The eight counties were added by FEMA today after damage assessments were completed last week.

“Flooding may have damaged infrastructure, but not the Minnesota spirit,” Governor Pawlenty said. “This federal assistance will help communities in these counties recover from damage caused by flooding this spring.”    » read more »

April 10, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakota Governor John Hoeven today said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide $750,000 in Section 32 funds to assist North Dakota ranchers impacted by severe winter weather and flooding this season. The money is part of a permanent appropriation used for domestic food programs and disaster relief for farmers.

Hoeven asked N.D. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring to create an expedited plan to distribute the funding to ranchers in dire need of feed, and provide the assistance as quickly as possible.

The news came following a conference call organized earlier today at Hoeven's request with Sec. Vilsack and North Dakota farm and ranch leaders to ask the secretary once more for federal aid for producers.    » read more »

April 9, 2009 -- Saint Paul – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced this afternoon that President Obama has approved a major disaster declaration for Minnesota. The presidential declaration clears the way for federal relief and recovery assistance in Traverse, Wilkin, Clay, Norman, Polk, Marshall and Kittson counties along the Red River in northwestern Minnesota.

Governor Pawlenty requested an expedited major disaster declaration in a letter to the President on March 25.    » read more »

April 10, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley on Friday asked President Obama to declare a major disaster area for 20 counties in Alabama that received damage from wind, rain and flooding recently.

Between March 30 and April 3, the 20 counties suffered an estimated $26 million in damage to roads, bridges and public buildings, the Governor said. In addition, 572 homes were affected by the severe storms in Covington, Geneva and Houston counties.

In addition to those three counties, Governor Riley’s disaster request covers Baldwin, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Henry, Lamar, Marengo, Perry, Russell, Washington and Wilcox counties.    » read more »

USDA Highlights Preparations for Regions Affected by Flooding

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today discussed how the USDA is preparing to assist regions affected by flooding. USDA is prepared to provide personnel and resources to help save lives and support recovery operations in areas devastated by flooding.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who will be impacted by flooding in the Nation's heartland," said Vilsack. "We are working tirelessly to identify and send all of the resources we can offer to those who are in need and will expedite delivery of these services however we can."

The USDA is mobilizing the following resources:    » read more »

March 25, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. -- The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and numerous federal and state partners are continuing to join forces to support North Dakota communities facing severe flood threats.

On Tuesday, President Obama declared a major disaster declaration for North Dakota. The President's action made federal funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations to help in flood fighting efforts.    » read more »

March 25, 2009 -- Saint Paul – In a letter to President Obama, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty today requested an expedited disaster declaration for the State of Minnesota as a result of severe storms and flooding in Clay, Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Traverse, and Wilkin Counties.

“The outpouring of community support I saw along the Red River this week should make every Minnesotan proud,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Our neighbors are battling the river and the state is working together with local partners to provide every available amount of assistance. Soon we’ll need federal support to help our communities recover from this flooding. I’m hopeful the federal government will grant our request promptly.”    » read more »

March 23, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. - Pursuant to the statewide emergency flood disaster declaration issued by Gov. John Hoeven on March 13, 2009, the N.D. Department of Emergency Services, N.D. National Guard, N.D. Department of Transportation and other agencies are assisting in flood fighting efforts around the state of North Dakota. These actions follow state preparation efforts coordinated with local authorities, as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA.

Fargo    » read more »

March 18, 2009 -- Saint Paul – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Saint Paul will be partially activated in response to increasing flood preparedness activities being undertaken by state emergency management officials, officials in counties adjacent to the Red River, the Army Corps of Engineers and others.

The Governor also directed Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Dan McElroy to organize “Minnesota Prepares,” an effort that will include state agencies officials who work together as the Minnesota Recovers Task Force in response to a natural disaster.    » read more »

March 16, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakota Governor John Hoeven today issued a statewide disaster declaration in anticipation of potential flooding, citing heavy snow pack on saturated land around the state and flood forecasts by the National Weather Service indicating "a strong potential for significant flooding in river basins throughout the state."

Hoeven formally requested assistance from the Omaha District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to supplement state and local efforts. Hoeven said, "Because of the urgent and compelling flood threat, I am requesting Corps assistance for flood control efforts in the Devils Lake, James River, Souris River, and Red River of the North basins, as needed."    » read more »

Announces $1.1 Million in Grants to Communities in 21 Counties

March 12, 2009 -- HARRISBURG – Communities in 21 counties will benefit from new state investments announced today by Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell that will help to ensure vital flood protection measures are in peak working order and protecting local residents.

The Governor said the state was directing $1.1 million in flood protection grants to assist with maintenance and improve operations at 28 locally operated flood protection projects.    » read more »

February 24, 2009 -- ATLANTA, Ga. -- The state of North Carolina will receive $5 million for a statewide risk assessment and mitigation strategy demonstration of the potential impacts of climate change-induced sea level rise.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will use the results of this study to assess the long-term fiscal implications of climate change as it affects the frequency and effects of natural disasters. Information from the study will be shared with other states to inform their climate change mitigation efforts.    » read more »

February 20, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver and Congressman Bruce Braley today announced that more than $5.1 million in federal and state funds has been identified and is in final approval for two conservation related recovery projects in Iowa. These funds are part of the effort to help rebuild infrastructure following the historic floods of 2008.

“Repairing our infrastructure after last years natural disasters means more than just roads and bridges. We must rebuild every facet of our state’s infrastructure, such as our conservation trails and bridges. These are essential to our state’s full recovery,” Governor Culver noted. “I will continue to work with federal partners to ensure Iowans are aided in all aspects of the recovery effort,” Culver stressed.    » read more »