FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Friday, June 20, 2008

For More information contact:  LeRoy Lippert or Gina Hardin, Des Moines County EOC (319-753-8295)

 

 

SITUATION UPDATE AND RESOURCE INFORMATION FOR DES MOINES COUNTY

 

The Des Moines County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) continues to function and will do so throughout the continuing flood emergency.  This news release is intended to provide useful information to the citizens of our area for the balance of the emergency and recovery process. 

 

Ø      Donations.  Monetary donations for flood victims can be made at:  Farmers & Merchants Bank, 221 Jefferson St., Burlington.  Donations should be marked for Des Moines County Salvation Army or Des Moines County Red Cross to be tax deductible.  Donations of cleaning supplies are not needed.

        

Ø      Flood clean up information website: www.co.des-moines.ia.us or you can pick up packets from Burlington City Hall, Burlington Public Library, Workforce Development Center, Des Moines County Extension Office, Community Action, & The Neighborhood Center

 

Ø      FEMA registration information for individuals who have had losses due to the flood:  www.fema.gov  or call 1-800-621-FEMA(3362)  TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech – or hearing impaired.  FEMA representatives are in town and announcements will be made soon on the opening of the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC).

 

Ø      Tetanus Clinics:  Des Moines County Public Health; Friday, June 20, 2008 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Also Saturday, June 21, 2008 at Two Rivers in Kingston from 8:30am to 11:30am

 

Ø      Drinking Water.  The drinking water provided by the Burlington Waterworks to the citizens of Burlington and rural Des Moines County has not been affected by the flood and is expected to continue to be safe to use for normal purposes.

 

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Ø      Security.  The evacuated area is patrolled 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  The National Guard is posted at each access point in the bottoms area from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM with two rolling humvees doing rolling patrol along with three Des Moines County Sheriff vehicles within that area.  The city of Burlington also has extra security measures in place on the riverfront and downtown area.  Anyone who does not have legitimate reason to be in these areas will be escorted out of the area immediately.

 

Ø      Flood Debris Disposal. Des Moines Regional Solid Waste Commission (Landfill) will be issuing instructions regarding disposal of flood waste, if you have questions please feel free to call them at 319-753-8126.  State of Iowa DNR:   Disposal website for flood related debris information:  www.iowadnr.gov/flood.html

 

Ø      Better Business Bureau Contact information:   Local information call 1-800-222-1600;  Websites: State: www.iowa.bbb.org, National:  www.bbb.org

 

Ø      Electric Update:

  • Burlington Generating Station: The situation at this location continues to improve and Alliant does not anticipate any service related issues at this time.
  • Laswell Substation #7: Alliant continues to monitor the water levels around the levy and at this time and it appears unlikely that they would need to experience a service interruption. The Laswell substation serves the critical levy pumping station on Highway 99 north of Burlington.
  • Public Works: Alliant continues to work closely with the city and monitor the sewage and water treatment plants and do not anticipate any service interruption at this time. They have a contingency plan in place if that should occur.
  • Downtown: Electric service is currently interrupted from the north edge of the sewage treatment plant extending up to Big Muddy’s due to continued flooding on the river front.  This electrical system was shut down earlier in the week to preserve the integrity of the downtown distribution operating system.
  • Restoration Effort: Alliant plans has begun construction on a redundant 13.2 kV distribution line located in the downtown area in an attempt to re-establish service to some of the affected customers located along east Main Street before the water recedes next week. Alliant will not be able to restore power to all customers due to flooding, but will attempt to restore as many as they can.
  • Alliant feels very confident in the integrity of the electric system in Burlington and do not anticipate any other significant issues at this time.

 

Ø      Gas Update:

  • Downtown Burlington: Alliant is working diligently to re-establish service to downtown Burlington.  Low pressure natural gas service was discontinued to over 200 customers including commercial businesses in the downtown area for safety reasons. We will continue to concentrate all necessary resources to get the gas system restored as soon as possible.

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Ø      Customers: Alliant Energy is actively working with local emergency personnel to facilitate customer service restoration needs.   More information to follow.

 

Ø      Salvation Army/Red Cross.   There will be a distribution of cleaning supplies to impacted individuals starting with the opening of the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center.   More information will be forth coming.   They do not need any material donations (furniture, clothes) but monetary donations or gift cards are appreciated. 

 

Ø      Seventh Day Adventist Community Service Center, 14th and Cedar, Burlington, will be open on Monday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM to flood victims only.  They have clothing, toys, bedding, towels, shoes, hygiene items, décor, dishes and more. 

 

 

 

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