Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Barnett | Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, along with Kansas Adjutant...... read more read more
ATCHISON, Kan. - Kansas Adjutant General and director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, joined Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts in a tour of Doniphan and Atchison Counties, July 1.
Local elected leaders, emergency responders and residents met with state leaders at the Doniphan County Emergency Operations Center located at the Elwood, Kan., fire station.
Representatives from FEMA and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers were on hand to discuss problems being caused by the Missouri River flooding in the area and how the state and/or federal government could further assist them, if needed.
During the meeting, Roberts discussed how he is working to help the communities impacted by flooding. “I have a bill that tells the [U.S. Corps of Engineers] to factor in the 2010 and 2011, especially 2011, hydrologic data into their 432 big book or manual that they have and must consider on flood control, navigation, irrigation and so forth,” said Roberts. “We are also going to have congressional hearings. There are at least 10 to 12 members of the Senate that are wanting answers to that because of the obvious snow packs. ”
As of 9:30 a.m. that morning the flood stage was recorded at 29.01 feet. A voluntary evacuation was put into effect the Monday prior, June 27, once the river reached 29 feet.
Missouri River levels continue to slowly lower along the Kansas border. However, the public is being advised that these conditions may change several times in the coming weeks.
“We need to remember that this is going to be a long-term situation,” said Tafanelli. “River levels will be fluctuating day by day depending on weather conditions upstream and locally and other factors. We will maintain our staffing in the State Emergency Operations Center for as long as necessary to keep on top of these changing conditions and respond as quickly as possible.”
To help the Elwood community throughout the duration of the flood, the Kansas National Guard has provided support to include levee monitoring and security.
Twenty–two Kansas National Guard soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery were brought on Active Duty to Elwood to help provide a security patrol to keep the city safe from possible theft as residents and business decided to leave.
In Atchison, local officials had the opportunity to meet with Tafanelli, Brownback and Roberts along with a FEMA representative.
Trey Cocking, city manager, shared information of the city’s economic hardship created by the flooding of the Missouri River. Currently, the bridge across to Missouri on US 59 is closed along with railway along the river. Companies like MGP Inc. are having to find other means of transportation for goods coming in and out.
With many of the bridges closed across the state border, many of the employees must travel out of their normal route to get to work each day because they reside in St. Joseph, Mo.
Another hardship the city is facing is the decline in tourism due to the flood. Many have the misconception that the city is flooded. The city is open for business including all the restaurants on the river. Only the river walk itself is being affected.
Atchison is also gearing up for its annual Amelia Earhart Festival, July 15-16. The festivities will still go on as they do every year, with activities that normally take place on the Riverfront moved to Warnock Lake.
| Date Taken: | 07.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.13.2011 17:07 |
| Story ID: | 73669 |
| Location: | ATCHISON, KANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 73 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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