Missouri River Flooding

Today I went to Council Bluffs, Glenwood, Hamburg and Sidney to meet with local residents and community leaders about Missouri River flooding.  I listened to concerns and a lot of frustrations, too.  My goal was to help look ahead to the recovery effort, whenever it’s possible for that to begin.

Congress needs to review the decisions made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  There will be hearings and other reviews.  It’s also important that resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency be made available to people along the Missouri River as they’ve been made available to victims of other floods.  It’s a matter of equity and fair treatment for the upper Midwest.

Next Wednesday, I will meet in Washington with Brigadier General John McMahon, who is the Army Corps of Engineers Division Commander for the Northwest Division, which covers western Iowa.  I also will meet with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, W. Craig Fugate.

Here’s exactly where I went to today hear directly from Iowans who are on the ground.

7:30-8 a.m.
Met in the operation room in the Council Bluffs Community Building

8 a.m.
Held a media availability with local leaders at the Council Bluffs City Hall

8:30-10:15 a.m.
Toured flooding in the Council Bluffs area

10:45 a.m.-12 noon
Toured flooding in the Glenwood area after a short meeting at the Mills County Engineers Office

1-2:30 p.m.
Toured flooding in the Hamburg area after a short meeting at the City Hall

3-3:30 p.m.
Met with Fremont County Supervisors in Sidney

Friday, June 17, 2011