SANDBAGGERS NEEDED

People to help fill and stack sandbags are desperately needed tomorrow morning (Thursday). We will be doing this at the Little Tarkio Creek Bridge on Hwy 118, about 1.5 miles west of Bigelow. Work will begin at 8am. If you could PLEASE come and help so that sandbags are ready to provide immediate local assistance when needed. PLEASE, WE NEED YOU!! Thanks!!

URGENT--LEVEE BREACH

STEVE JOHANSEN HAS JUST REPORTED THAT THE LEVEE HAS BROKEN WEST OF BOB SIPES'. BREACH IS CURRENTLY 4 FEET WIDE, SIDES CAVING OFF RAPIDLY. STEVE SAID EVERYONE NEEDS TO EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY.

SANDBAGGING EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE AT THIS TIME WEST OF DARREL VOLTMER'S. HELP NEEDED THERE IMMEDIATELY--WILL CONTINUE INTO THE NIGHT IF POSSIBLE.  TO GET THERE, HEAD WEST ON HOLT 190 OFF OF HWY 111 BETWEEN BIG LAKE AND CRAIG.
(reported Saturday, June 18, 9:00pm)

Status Update, Saturday, June 18

1.  Levees: All Levees, at the moment of this writing, are holding. However, strong winds overnight began to cause some erosion to an area of Levee #10 west of Big Lake. Board members and other area farmers have been working today moving sandbags and working on a plan to reinforce the weakened area. They will need help placing plastic and filling sandbags to hold it in place, possibly on Monday. This will be a big job, so help is critical.  (There may also be a need for meals if anyone is interested in providing food for the workers. ) Once a definite plan is in place, information will be posted here if you are able to help. Contact information will also be provided at that time. We ask all "sight-seers" to PLEASE stay away from the levees.  UPDATE: SANDBAGGING GOING ON RIGHT NOW (SATURDAY EVENING) IN TWO LOCATIONS--DARREL VOLTMER PLACE (Sorry, I'll try to get more info on the exact location) AND JUST OFF OF HWY 159, FIRST ROAD EAST OF THE RIVER. IF YOU CAN HELP RIGHT NOW, HEAD TO EITHER LOCATION.

2.  Roads: No roads are closed due to flooding at this time.

3.  River Stage: The river stage has increased significantly today. As of 5pm, the river is at 25.65 feet, and it is projected to reach 26.4 feet by early Monday morning. (Current status.) With the river this high, things can happen (and change) very quickly. (As a point of reference, the record river stage, which was reached on June 23 of last year, is 26.6 feet.)

4.  News: Area men met with the BNSF Railroad again today, asking for assistance in reinforcing the weakened levees that are currently protecting this area. Results of these meetings are still pending.
The Army Corps of Engineers also announced they are increasing releases from Oahe and Big Bend Dams from 150,000cfs to 160,000cfs, effective June 19. At this point they claim the Gavins Point release will remain at 150,000cfs.


5.  Photos
This photo is from earlier in the week--our local guys working on area levees. Besides these 4 excavators (4th one barely visible), there were 5 bulldozers working behind the photographer. Work in this area has been completed.

Status Update and News, Friday, June 17

Lots going on today in our area. 

1. Levee Status: No new Missouri River levee breaches have been reported. The secondary levee (High Bank Levee, located to the west of Big Lake, is strong and holding. The full length of it is being checked daily by the volunteers who helped build it. They are closely monitoring it for areas of deterioration or seepage. There are a couple of areas that will be worked on soon. One area is being impacted by waves created by the wind and they may need help laying plastic in this area to protect it. In another area, they may need dump trucks to help haul dirt to reinforce a thin area. IF help is needed, it will be posted here and on our Facebook page, as well as contact information if you can help.

2. Road Conditions: No roads have been closed by MODOT in Holt County due to flooding. (Check current road conditions.) Road/crossing closing done by the Railroad are possible and variable as they continue to do work on the rails along Hwy 159.

3. River Stage: 24.57 at the time of this writing. (Check current river stage.) Projected to reach 25.6 on Monday.

4. Some area farmers and businessmen met with the Railroad today for extensive talks. More details on this as the results of these talks become available.

Photos of the secondary levee, aka the High Bank Levee, constructed by local farmers and businessmen. Photos taken Thursday, June 16. (Click on image for larger view.)

This last photo (above) show the early stages of wind/wave deterioration. The Army Corps of Engineers is supplying plastic to protect this area. Help MAY be needed to lay/place this plastic.

Photos of Railroad activity taken Friday, June 17, 2011 (Click on image for larger view.)

(Below) RR track fortification. 

Taken from Del Rio Road and Hwy 159 facing east. (Del Rio Road is the first road west of Diamond Lane.)

 (Below) Significantly raised crossing on Hwy 111 near Hwy 159.

(Below) Rail work being completed just north of the above intersection. (Hwy 111 and 159 intersection) 

Railroad Article in St. Joseph News Press

Friday, June 17, 2011 article in the St. Joseph News Press regarding Railroad Activity:
http://www.newspressnow.com/localnews/28266192/detail.html
(photo from article)

Railroad Activity

Witnesses have reported that the BNSF Railroad has been working south of Big Lake this week. Reports vary from actually raising the rail (using a machine that, in essence, sits on the rail, jerks it up, then forces rock under it to make it higher) to building up the sides of the railway with hundreds of loads of rock, maybe both. This could potentially have a serious effect on local residents and landowners if flood waters begin to flow into our area.

The railway that runs east and west along the south side of Big Lake creates a literal dam that blocks flood waters on the north side from draining. The higher the railway, the deeper the water, and potentially the further it spreads. BNSF is supposed to have permits in hand in order to do work to the railroad. These permits are supposed to be issued by Holt County, the Village of Big Lake, and/or MODOT, depending on where the work is being done. It is unknown if BNSF has produced evidence of any permits to date.

If you are a property or landowner in the area that may be effected by flooding, BNSF could be effecting the potential water depth on your property, and possibly not going through correct procedure to do so.

If you contact any authorities about this matter, please remember you will get much further with them if you are kind and professional.

• The County Commissioner is aware of the situation and is working on it. You may want to call his office to express concern and offer support. 
• You may want to call MODOT if you were effected by BNSF's work on the rail crossing south of Big Lake Wednesday. Ask if they had proper authorization to do the work and interrupt traffic while doing so. Ask what is being done to ensure BNSF is abiding by the same laws governing the rest of us.
• You may want to call FEMA and express concern over this situation and see what is being done about it. Again, is BNSF abiding by the law? And if not, what is being done about it?
• You may want to call state and national representatives and express concern over the way the Army Corps of Engineers has "managed" the dam and levee system in the last several years. On a national level, that would include Sam Graves, Roy Blunt, and Claire McCaskill. On a state level, that would include Mike Thompson and Brad Lager. 

Status Update

A summary of conditions in our area, just to get everyone up to speed and on the same page...

• Monday morning, June 13, 2011, a breach occurred in the Missouri River levee north of Big Lake. 
• The secondary levee that was constructed by area farmers and businessmen in the last several weeks has prevented flood waters from reaching inland, including thousands of acres of farm ground, the residents of Big Lake, and across Highway 159.
• In the last few days, this secondary levee has been reinforced by area farmer and businessmen. It is anticipated that this work will be completed today.
• As of Tuesday, June 14, Gavins Point Dam is now releasing 150,000 cubic feet of water per second through its spillways into the Missouri River. The Army Corps of Engineers says that rate will not increase, but is expected to continue through late August.
• Current river stage at Rulo is 23.9 feet, with a projected 25.6 feet early next week. (Check current river stage at Rulo here.)