Flooding in Nebraska, September 1 to 30, 2011

Flooding along the Missouri River, which worsened over the area during June and July, persisted into August before moderating late in that month and in September. Record releases due to heavy rain and mountain snow melt above Ft. Randal Dam brought the widespread flooding along the river. In Knox county at its height the flooding closed Highway 12 between Verdel and Niobrara and the highway east of Niobrara and also closed Highway 14/37 north of Niobrara. However, the highways had reopened by early September. Earlier the flooding had forced the evacuation of 50 to 60 residences including the Lazy River Acres area between Niobrara and Verdel.

Flooding along the Missouri River, which had gradually worsened over the area during June and July, started improving in August and basically ended by mid September. The flooding was caused by record releases out of Gavins Point Dam which reached around 160,000 cfs by the end of June. These releases were cut way back in late August and even more by mid September due to decreased inflows into the river system. A few seasonal or permanent homes were threatened by the flood waters, but in general the flooding was confined to low areas and farmland along the river.

Flooding along the Missouri River in Douglas county, which had gradually worsened during June and July, started moderating in late August as releases from Gavins Point Dam were reduced. The river finally dropped below flood stage around Sept. 12th, although releases were slowed for several weeks in mid September to keep levees from sloughing off from too fast of a water drop. So although river levels had dropped below flood stage at Omaha by mid month, they were still high enough so that some minor overflows continued for much of September across a few of the normally flooded areas near the river. Earlier in the summer the river at Omaha had crested around 36 feet and had closed several parks, boating accesses, and recreational areas. Low areas around downtown on the river side of the federal levee were also flooded. By the end of August Omaha's tab for the flood fight had totaled $10 million, this was in addition to levee damage and money Eppley spent for flood control.

Flooding along the Missouri River in Sarpy county gradually worsened during June and moderate flooding persisted into late August before releases from Gavins Point Dam began dropping. Initially the high releases and flooding was due to snow melt and heavy rain, but persistent heavy rain events above Sioux City as the summer wore on kept the reservoirs full and releases high. The river near Omaha climbed to around its 29 foot flood stage late in May and rose steadily through June reaching around 36 feet toward the end of the month. The river fell slightly during the first week of July but continued around 35 feet through much July before falling to around 34 feet over the first half of August. By the first of September the river near Omaha had fallen to around 31 feet as decreased releases from Gavins Point allowed the river to fall into the minor flood category. The river finally dropped below flood stage around Sept. 12th, although releases were slowed for several weeks in mid September to keep levees from sloughing off from too fast of a water drop. So although river levels had dropped below flood stage at Omaha by mid month, they were still high enough so that some minor overflows continued for much of September across a few of the normally flooded areas near the river. Earlier in the summer flooding in Sarpy county spread into at least one park causing its closure and boating and other recreational areas were also closed because of flooding. During the height of the flooding a section of the rail track that Amtrak used had to be closed to allow for its use as a levee.

Flooding along the Missouri River in Cass county which had gradually worsened during June and remained in a major or moderate flood category until late August, finally started letting up from late August into September as record releases from Gavins Point Dam were greatly reduced after mid August. At Plattsmouth the Missouri River reached a crest a little over 36 feet by the end of June, flood stage is 26 feet, remained at very high levels in July and August before dropping to around 30 feet by the first of September. Stepped decreases in reservoir releases allowed the river to finally fall below flood stage at Plattsmouth late in September. At its worst, the high water flooded farmland along with a few roads and recreation areas, including a road to the Plattsmouth water treatment plant. Some businesses and homes were also flooded, and most of the 210 dwellings around Lake Waconda in the area were evacuated.

Flooding along the Missouri River gradually worsened during June and early July as record releases from Gavins Point Dam brought widespread flooding along the river. The river at Nebraska City, which climbed above its 18 foot flood stage in mid April, eventually reached a record crest of around 28 feet by the end of June before falling several feet in July as downstream levees were breached and widened. River values steadily dropped during September as upstream releases were lowered substantially and by the end of the month the river had fallen below flood stage at Nebraska City. During the height of the flooding in Otoe county, farmland, roads and recreation areas near the river flooded as did some cabins and a grain elevator near Nebraska City. Flood waters crossed Highway 2 in Fremont county Iowa prompting its closure on both sides of the river. Highway 2 remained closed into late October due to damage that occurred earlier in the summer even though river levels fell enough so that they no longer covered the road.

Flooding along the Missouri River gradually worsened over Nemaha county during June as record releases from Gavins Point Dam and periodic heavy rains brought widespread flooding along the river. The river at Brownville started June around 39 feet, flood stage is 33 feet. The river gradually climbed to a record crest around 45 feet by the end of that month before falling as downstream levees were breached and widened by flooding. Moderate flooding persisted through July and into late August before the river fell even more due to decreased releases from upstream reservoirs. However, minor flooding persisted through September and into early October. At the peak of the flooding Highway 136 in Missouri, and the access road to a nuclear power plant were under water along with recreation areas and farmland along the river. The flooding of Highway 136 prompted the closure of the Brownville, Nebraska bridge over the Missouri River. Over 8,000 acres were covered in flood waters during the peak of the flooding in early summer.

Flooding along the Missouri River gradually worsened during June as record releases from Gavins Point Dam brought widespread flooding along the river. The river at Rulo rose to a record crest around 27 feet by the end of the June before falling slightly as levees were breached and widened by the flood waters. Flood stage is 17 feet. Although river levels steadily fell after mid August as upstream reservoirs reduced releases, moderate flooding persisted into early September. As releases decreased even further during September, river levels fell even more and at Rulo they were just a foot or so above flood stage by the end of September. At the height of the flooding, farmland along the river was flooded, along with roads, cabins, recreation areas and a few businesses. Highway 159 in Holt county Missouri flooded by the middle of the June prompting the closure of the Rulo, Nebraska bridge over the Missouri River for the summer.

Flooding along the Missouri River which worsened across Washington county in June and July started improving in late August and the river near Blair finally dropped below its 26.5 foot flood stage in the morning of Sept. 13th. The river near Blair reached a crest of a little over 32 feet during the last week or so of June. In Washington county the flooding especially hit the Fort Calhoun area hard where at least 60 homes or cabins were flooded or cutoff by flood waters. At least 200 residences in the county were evacuated leaving at least 500 people displaced. This prompted the city to open the high school up for flood victims. Blair spent $500,000 to build up a levee surrounding its water treatment plant which held through June. The Ft. Calhoun Nuclear power plant was in refueling shut-down when the flooding started in April and because of the high waters remained shut-down through the summer as flood waters surrounded the plant prompting emergency sand bagging. In addition, recreation areas and roads along the river were flooded.