GIPD Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle in use overnight to assist drivers of stalled vehicles, (City of Grand Island, Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND – Eight local government leaders representing a variety of backgrounds spoke at a news conference June 26 about the record rainfall June 25-26 that led to significant flooding in Grand Island.
City/County Emergency Management Director Jon Rosenlund said that the National Weather Service in Hastings reported 7.13 inches of rain.
“Many of our neighborhoods are dealing with flash flooding,” Mayor Roger Steele said. “This has caused a significant amount of damage.”
Steele said he wanted to begin by recognizing the professionalism of the city’s departments.
He said that the emergency management team led by Jon Rosenlund moved quickly to monitor the situation. The Grand Island Police Department responded to dozens of calls concerning stranded motorists and keeping citizens safe through the night. Steele said that the Fire Department was prepared and ready. The streets and public works departments worked with flooded intersections and blocked intersections.
Steele described the weather as a “storm of extraordinary magnitude.”
“I want to thank each and every city employee who worked throughout the night,” Steele said.
He also wanted to thank the residents of Grand Island who chose to stay home.
“We’ve heard of strangers helping strangers,” Steele said. “We’ll get through this together.”
He said he was encouraged that there were not reported injuries.
“It is your personal safety that is our highest priority,” Steele said.
Steele asked residents for their continued patience. He asked residents to obey detours. People with damage should report it through an online portal that’s been set up.
Steele said that the city’s communications department would continue to update residents.
City/County Emergency Management Director Jon Rosenlund said that a lot has been going on the last 12 hours.
At 11:10 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning. At 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency. Many people in the community received the warning on their cell phones, Rosenlund said.
Around the same time, the emergency operations center was opened. Police, fire department, streets and other agencies were invited to coordinate resources. The group operated through the night in coordinating responses, where it be stranded motorists or people wondering if their homes were safe. Rosenlund said he was grateful for the National Weather Service staff in Hastings. They provided “great forecasts” and flood modeling forecasts.
The operation period for Thursday started at approximately 7 a.m. All city departments were gathered for a briefing. They were advised about what had happened overnight, and a plan of action was formulated. Drone flights were coordinated to ensure that officials could get the most effective information possible and get information for damage assessment. The streets department informed which roads were available. Rosenlund said that damage assessment teams will go door to door.
Rosenlund said that it’s important to remember the great work that the public provided today. He wanted to thank all partners who had assisted in the flooding response.
Grand Island Police Chief Kevin Denney said that Wednesday night the Police Department used its deep-water rescue vehicle. It had 107 calls for service between midnight and 11 a.m. There were two rescues from residences and 25 motorist assists. Denney said the department was down to clearing less than a half dozen vehicles from roadways.
Fire Department Chief Cory Schmidt said, “We’re fortunate, because we were prepared.”
“Our crews started to respond around 11 p.m. Wednesday until 7 a.m. Thursday.
“People made good choices. They chose to stay home,” Schmidt said.
The time of day when the rain occurred was helpful. For instance, it didn’t rain when people were going home from work.
“Overall we were fortunate. The community has done a great job preparing for instances such as this,” Schmidt said.
“I’m proud to be part of the city of Grand Island,” Schmidt said.
City Public Works Director Keith Kurz said that flooding did occur in underpasses such as the ones at Eddy and Sycamore streets. All were now open except for the Eddy Street underpass. He said that there were streets flooded west of Highway 281.
“Patience is a key,” Kurz said. Detention cells worked as they were designed. Water is receding from the detention cells.”
Kurz said that there was good coordination among departments.
“Everybody performed well,” Kurz said.
Central Platte NRD staff member Jesse Mintken said that the NRD’s two major flood diversion projects were working as they should be – the Wood River Flood Diversion Project and the Prairie/Silver/Moores Creek Project.
“I do anticipate there will be flows for several days going down the two diversion projects,” he said.
Central District Health Department Director Teresa Anderson said that her perspective on the flooding was from a public health perspective. She said that children should be kept out of flood water, because there are chemicals and bacteria in flood water. Second, for people who have private wells, if flood water covered the well head, bring a water sample to the Health Department so that it can be tested. She said if water has been in a basement, mold will likely follow. She said a news release will be issued within the next few days about mold. Finally, she said that there would be more mosquitoes. She urged people who had containers outside holding water such as small swimming pools to empty them. That will help reduce the number of mosquitoes.
Hall County Board of Commissioners Chairman Ron Peterson said that the community was very lucky to have Jon Rosenlund and his staff to plan for events such as the flooding. Peterson said that some county roads were closed for a short period of time. He encouraged residents to report problems on county roads.
