Flood News

March 2009
Heavy rains fall on the Mississippi river valley and feeder rivers causing flooding

Multiple days of 2 - 4" rainfalls over areas surrounding the Iowa River, Rock River and Mississippi River have brought more flooding to areas still recovering from last years flood damage. Levee's near areas like Oakville, Iowa that have yet to be repaired are receiving quick, temporary improvements that it is hoped will be sufficient to protect the towns that depend on them. Already several deaths have resulted from automobiles being carried away by flash floods quickly covering area roads and highways.

September 12 - 14, 2008
Up to 10 inches of rain fall in Illinois, Iowa

Portions of the Midwest are flooding again as remnants of hurricanes are spawning intense rain in certain areas of Illinois and Iowa.

Flooding is again ravaging homes, businesses and communities; many of which are still trying to recover from floods earlier this summer. Money is desperately needed by small communities without the resources to help themselves and no money for required matching funds necessary to get Federal assistance.

September, 2008

Midwest Flood Relief Sends Out Checks

Yes, the need is still there and we are still collecting. Area communities are putting together concerts and other events to continue to raise funds for small communities that don't even have the money for matching funds required to get Federal assistance.

We are happy to report that MidwestFloodRelief.org has been able to offer financial assistance to small communities in three Midwest states: Illinois, Iowa and Missouri.

Your contributions are desperately needed and greatly appreciated.

Thanks to all those who have given generously so far!

August 7, 2008

FEMA Buyouts Discussed

The trouble with FEMA buyouts as stated by Oakville, IA Mayor Benita Grooms is that the community must fund 15% of the buyout price for each and every home.

Oakville, like so many other small towns, simply doesn't have that kind of money. (Hence, why this website was created in the first place!)

July 24, 2008

FEMA takes away trailers, some already inhabited

In Cedar Rapids, IA FEMA has hauled away trailers because of mold found. Some of those were already inhabited. In Oakville, IA, 8 of 9 trailers, some with decks already built have been hauled away also. Residents are stunned.

Gov. Chet Culver requests $946 million more

Govenor Culver says the money is needed to help with the thousands of homes destroyed in the flooding and aftermath. The money already earmarked is not near enough according to the Governor and is asking Congress for more.

Many Quad City Area residents still without power

Thousands of residents in Moline, Rock Island and other Illinois towns are still without power after Monday mornings 90 - 100 mph windstorm took down record numbers of large trees and snapping power poles. 1400 crews from around the country are helping to restore power; many homes are having to hire electrical contractors to repair the wires that connect to their homes, waiting their turn.

The hope at this point is that all homes and businesses will have power restored by late Friday night, over 4 days after the storm hit. As of Thursday evening, many high traffic intersections were still without traffic signals.

July 21, 2008

At 5:45am, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued. Within ten minutes, areas primarily south and east of the Quad Cities were struck with a severe thunderstorm brandishing "straight-line" winds in excess of 100 mph. The Quad City airport officially recorded 94 mph winds.

Power outages are extensive throughout both Iowa and Illinois and will continue for days. Many Illinois communities have so many trees down it looks like a tornado went through, with some small buildings blown away and many homes roofs punctured by falling limbs. The weather service is fairly certain no actual tornados occurred.

The Quad City airport, an area mall, a large area of traffic signals are all without power or on limited power into Tuesday July 22nd.

The mayor of the City of Moline, IL has declared a state of emergency.

One 4 year old boy was killed in a campground when a tree fell on the family's tent.

(Editorial note: In 4 decades of living in the midwest I have NEVER seen such widespread storm damage)

See Photos

July 17, 2008

One of the Quad City news channels profiled the problems in Oakville, IA where significant devastation was wrought by the flood. Townspeople are NOT being offered buyouts from FEMA due to a little known clause in the law.

Turns out that if your property is in a flood zone but protected by a levee, you don't qualify for a buyout if the levee breaks.

Unfortunately, some townspeople were told that they did not need flood insurance either. For some, the only help is in the form of a low interest SBS loan; and many of those who are retired do not qualify due to insufficient annual income.

Statewide, it seems that the money FEMA has allocated is amounting to less than half of the projected need.

July 17, 2008

Governor Rod Blagojevich today announced federal disaster assistance is available to help Illinois farmers who suffered crop losses, because of excessive rain and flooding this spring. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted the Governor’s request to designate 74 Illinois counties as natural disaster areas. The designation qualifies farmers in those counties and 17 contiguous counties for USDA assistance, including low-interest emergency loans.

Illinois is comprised of 102 counties.