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Wed
14
Sep

Final week to report flood damage to Emergency Management

Allamakee County Emergency Management is asking Allamakee County home and business owners who experienced damage from the August 23-24 heavy rains and flooding to contact Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker no later than Friday, September 16 to report flood damage.  This information will then be reported to the State of Iowa for potential further action beyond the Iowa Individual Assistance Program which is currently available. Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker can be reach by phone at 563-568-4233 or by e-mail at csnitker@co.allamakee.ia.us.

Additional information about flood assistance within Allamakee County and northeast Iowa can be found on Page 11A of this week's issue of The Standard.
 

Wed
14
Sep

Nation of Patriots 2016 Patriot Tour makes its way to Waukon ...

The Nation of Patriots, a volunteer organization with a mission to provide financial support to families of wounded military veterans who have made sacrifices in service to their country, brought its 2016 Patriot Tour through Waukon last week on its way to completion of its annual three-month summer tour across the country. Tour participants display a United States flag which is transferred between riders at each designated stop along the tour. The tour began over the Memorial Day weekend from Madison, WI, making its way through every one of the contiguous 48 United States before finally ending up back in Madison, WI, where it arrived Saturday, September 3.

Wed
14
Sep

Sunday morning blaze in downtown Lansing forces neighboring occupants to evacuate...

At approximately 1:09 a.m. Sunday, September 11, the Lansing Fire Department was paged out for a structure fire at 221 Main Street, the former Smerud Construction building still owned by Roxanne Smerud of Lansing. According to a report released by Lansing Fire Department Chief Tony Becker, the fire was contained to the lower level and basement of the Smerud building, but the upstairs apartment and neighboring buildings did sustain heavy smoke and water damage from the incident. Local officials credit the quick and skilled work of the firefighters from the local and area volunteer departments for preventing the blaze from being much worse considering the close proximity of Lansing's Main Street buildings.

Wed
07
Sep

Owners of Upper Iowa Resort & Rental committed to re-opening, Designated clean-up days this weekend; Volunteers welcome to help clean up flood-ravaged campground


The storm of August 23-24 that dumped anywhere from three to eight inches of rain in northeast Iowa and swelled the Upper Iowa River to a record flood crest of 24.3 feet left behind a massive clean-up effort for the adjacent Upper Iowa Resort & Rental near Dorchester. Some of the destruction left behind by the record flooding can be seen in the surrounding photos, but owners Bob and Kristi Hager have intentions of opening the campground again. Preliminary clean-up efforts began once the flood waters subsided and the area dried out a bit, with a designated clean-up weekend scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday, September 10 and 11. Volunteers willing to help with any clean-up effort are asked to contact the Hagers at 563-568-2631. Standard photos by Joe Moses.

by Joe Moses

Late Tuesday, August 23 through early Wednesday, August 24 saw heavy rainfall that impacted much of northeast Iowa. The Upper Iowa River valley in northern Allamakee County suffered flood damage due to the 5.5" to 6" of rain reported by the National Weather Service in that area during that overnight period.

As a result of that rainfall and the flow downstream of more than 8" of rain in the Decorah area, the Upper Iowa River swelled to a record crest of 24.3', nearly two feet higher than it had ever reached before. The Upper Iowa's previous record crest had been 22.5' back in 2008.

Wed
07
Sep

Waterville Fire Department celebrating 100 years of serving the community during its annual Car Cruise set for this Saturday


Current Waterville Fire Department Chief Loren Mitchell stands inside the Waterville Fire Station with a piece of the department's early history hanging overhead. Waterville's first fire water pump is on display in the station, courtesy of Larry and Lisa Ashbacher. Mitchell was selected as the new Waterville Fire Department Chief earlier this year, as the Department celebrates the centennial of its organization in October. Submitted photo.

by Kelli Boylen

In October of 1916 the Waterville Fire Department was established. Fourteen members were approved by the Waterville City Council to serve as volunteer firemen.

Today, 24 Waterville firefighters are preparing for the department's 13th Annual Car Cruise this Saturday (see advertisement on Page 7A of this edition). The car cruise theme will celebrate the Department’s centennial, according to Waterville Fire Chief Loren Mitchell.

In November 1916, a committee was appointed to meet with the city council about building a fire station. According to records, the committee insisted on a building 16'x20'x8' not to exceed $500, with half the funds to be paid by the City and half paid by the “fire company.”

Wed
07
Sep

NEIA counties joining together for flood relief program

Allamakee County Economic Development is partnering with Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC), Winneshiek County United Way and the regional chambers and economic development organizations in Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette and Howard counties to raise money for victims impacted by the August flooding. Individuals and businesses interested in donating to the fund can send their cash/check to the locations listed below. All proceeds raised will be directly given back to flood victims.

NEICAC is serving as the fiscal agent for all five counties. Checks should be made to NEICAC Flood Relief with the designated county in the memo line. Contributions to NEICAC are tax deductible.

Wed
31
Aug

HISTORICAL HARDSHIP: August 23-24 storm swells Upper Iowa River to record levels, results in flash flooding and other damage


Storms that made their way through northeast Iowa overnight Tuesday, August 23 into Wednesday, August 24 resulted in a new record crest of 24.3 feet for the Upper Iowa River recorded by the National Weather Service around 9 p.m. Wednesday, August 24 at its Dorchester measuring station located at the Upper Iowa River Bridge along State Highway 76. That new record level forced closure of the bridge until early Thursday morning, August 25, when the above photo was taken and the waters had receded back near the previous record level of about 22.5 feet. The National Weather Service reported approximately 5.5" of rain fell in the Dorchester area with the storm, but the more than 8" of rain that also flooded the Decorah area with that same storm made its way downstream to compound the river's flow and leave a path of flooded homes, farmland and washed out river banks and roadways in its wake. The storm also caused flash flooding that closed additional roadways throughout the county and caught many area homeowners and visitors off guard. Standard photo by Joe Moses. Additional photos from throughout the county can be found in the print version of The Standard and at the Photo Gallery link on this website.

It was less than a 12-hour period of rain, but it left an impact lasting days, weeks and even months, and an end result of historical proportions that will be remembered for a lifetime by many.

The overnight period of late Tuesday evening, August 23 through early Wednesday morning, August 24 saw heavy rainfall move in quickly and hover over northeast Iowa, dumping rainfall totals of anywhere from 3.5” to 8.5” that raised river levels, washed out roadways, flooded properties and left an incredible amount of clean-up in its wake. In addition to the property damage impact felt throughout Allamakee County and four neighboring counties that initially received a disaster declaration by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad due to the storms, it was Chickasaw County in northeast Iowa where the ultimate loss was suffered, as a 77-year-old man from Sumner lost his life near Lawler when he was swept away by flood waters after fast-rising water stalled his vehicle.

Wed
31
Aug

Governor issues disaster proclamation

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties in response to the Tuesday and Wednesday, August 23 and 24 severe storms and flash flooding that continue to impact those counties. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of severe storms that significantly impacted those counties August 23-24. In addition, the proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Program for residents of those counties.

Tue
30
Aug

Financial help for flood losses may be available through Iowa Individual Assistance Program

Residents affected by the August 23 storms and resulting flooding may be eligible to apply for the Iowa Individual Assistance Program to cover losses experienced due to the resulting flooding. To qualify, households must be located within the disaster declaration area of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties and must meet income guidelines listed below. Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) administers the program in these affected counties.
The program provides up to a maximum of $5,000 per household to cover repairs, debris removal, furnace or water heater work, replacement of lost or spoiled food, and other household losses. Households must have an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline as shown below:

Number in Max. gross
Household yearly income
1 $23,760
2 $32,040
3 $40,320
4 $48,600
5 $56,880

Fri
26
Aug

Governor Branstad issues disaster proclamation for five counties

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties in response to the Tuesday and Wednesday, August 23 and 24 severe storms and flash flooding that continue to impact those counties. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of severe storms that significantly impacted those counties August 23-24. In addition, the proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Program for residents of those counties.

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