With more rain possibly looming in our forecast, one of the topics at Thursday afternoon’s Butler City and County emergency management meeting was making sure there is not more flooding.
According to Councilwoman Kathy Kline, “With the weather that came through last night and it came down so quickly, a lot of the streams brought trees and brush. In one area there was an actual dam basically that was built. That has been cleared.”
Kline was one of those present along with city and county officials and emergency responders. The Army Corps of Engineers has already reached out to city officials with an offer to help with a long term solution through corrective action.
The Red Cross is continuing their assessment of door to door assessment of each structure affected by the flooding. Once that list has been assembled, other organizations will be able to better provide help to city residents. Although the flooding caused a great deal of damage, there have been no reports of any injuries due to the high water.
Ten dumpsters will be made available beginning Friday at locations to be determined. Mud and other natural debris will be collected and likely disposed of in land behind Butler Memorial Park.
Mayor Tom Donaldson said that his current declaration of emergency will continue to be in effect at least through the weekend and it will be strictly enforced.
“If you don’t live in the neighborhood, don’t be in the neighborhood. Police will approach you, question you, and if you give them a hard time, then they’ll enforce the law. Keep in mind they don’t have electric, in most cases that means they don’t have phone or any of the other conveniences so they’re going to be down there and we don’t need people down there that don’t belong down there. It will be strictly enforced,” Donaldson explained.
A follow up meeting will be held this Monday at 10 a.m. at the City Building at which time more information is thought to be known about things like extent and amount of damage. In the meantime, residents in need of help are encouraged to call 211.
Written by Ryan Saeler
