Due to a large accumulation of water from melted snow in Montana and the Dakotas, the Army Corps of Engineers has ordered the floodgates on all the dams on the Missouri River to be opened. The last and southernmost of these dams is Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, South Dakota, which is approximately 300 miles upstream from Kansas City.

I live about 5 miles away from a small town called Parkville, Missouri, which is near the river and suffered major damage in the great flood of 1993. It's a neat historic old river town and I enjoy spending a lot of time there on the weekends. I have decided to take pictures and document the day-by-day progression of the flood and post the pics here (if you all don't mind).

First, though, a video from YouTube of Gavins Point Dam after they opened the floodgates.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkhTHU1fBJM

Sandbags across the main street of downtown Parkville, MO 6-09-2011. The river is about 1/4 mile back.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2252.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2266.jpg


American Legion Post #318, Parkville, MO. (One of my regular hangouts, I am also a member.) The floodwaters of 1993 came to just under the bottom of the sign.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2253.jpg


Inside the American Legion post. Notice the brass plaque to the right of the EXIT sign.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2254.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2263.jpg

On my way back to KC from Lincoln, NE 6-12-2011. The road is Iowa State Highway 2, just east of the Missouri River bordering Nebraska. As you can see, the water had risen enough to where it was covering one lane.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2297.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2298.jpg



There are 3 truckstops, a Wendy's, and a motel at the junction of Hwy 2 and Interstate 29 in Iowa. Only one of them was still open, the others had makeshift earth levees put up around them.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2299.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2301.jpg


The motel owner still managed to find humor in the situation:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2303.jpg


This junction is about 5 miles north of Hamburg, Iowa, which yesterday had a levee rupture so I imagine that all of this area is probably flooded out by now. The latest reports are that I-29 has been closed down for 23 miles in that vicinity.

I drove down to Parkville today but the river level hasn't risen yet.

More updates as they come.

Way too familiar with this - it was just three years ago today that our local towns (I could not get to them, as I was on a high island) - here in SE iowa from the Cedar and Iowa Rivers...


The water was still held by the earthen levee they built at this point.  The green has a Dollar General, Hotel, Casey's Gas Station, Subway and lots of offices.... Almost the heart of the town of 2,000


Unfortunately it did not hold - I cannot get any of the flood pictures to load, taking all mentioned above, along with grocery store, dr's office, dentist, drug store, bowling alley (never to come back), and vet clinic

Wow, seems like you went through quite a lot of flooding! Al, hope you stay safe...and keep the pics coming.

:(  How awful!  Stay safe!

stay safe Al.

Thanks for posting the photos Al and Sami. 

I remember watching the '93 floods on the news.  The Mississippi and Red River have flooded numerous times since then, but not as bad as 1993, IIRC. 

Stay dry and I'll say a little prayer for you!

http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/05/jarswim.gif

Great pics

Stay safe and dry Al

Great pics

Stay safe and dry Al


Yes, stay safe and dry.  NOW can we start listening to our Mother nature?

Yes, stay safe and dry.  NOW can we start listening to our Mother nature?


Nope.  People who live in the flood plain told her to go pack sandbags.

I am just wondering how the flooding is???  Is it a complete loss yet, is the worst yet to come, or what is the status???  I just heard Hamburg Iowa is forcing evacuation, as they feel the complete town will be under several feet of water, much of the town is already flooded, but they are fearing far worse scenario now.  I was wondering if you had any news???

I am just wondering how the flooding is???  Is it a complete loss yet, is the worst yet to come, or what is the status???  I just heard Hamburg Iowa is forcing evacuation, as they feel the complete town will be under several feet of water, much of the town is already flooded, but they are fearing far worse scenario now.  I was wondering if you had any news???


(From kmbc.com)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Additional levee failures in northwest Missouri are increasing concerns about the flooding problem in communities along the Missouri River.

The Mill Creek levee failed Wednesday, sending 9 feet of water into the town of Corning, Mo.

The flood waters also threaten Interstate 29 near mile marker 99, about 10 miles farther south of where the highway is closed at Rockport.

Missouri emergency operations managers said they were unhappy about the increase in river flows by the Army Corps of Engineers, but not for the most obvious reason.

For days, Missouri officials were told, and were telling people the 150,000 cubic feet per second release would be the maximum. Late Tuesday, the corps abruptly announced the releases into the Missouri River would increase to 155,000 cfs from the Gavin's Point Dam. On Thursday it will increase the flow to 160,000 cfs.

June 21: Flooding Aerials

Some managers are privately complaining the corps is making them look bad at the very least. KMBC's Micheal Mahoney reported that, at worst, it may create a credibility gap. But officials said that they didn't think the extra water, once it arrives by the weekend, won't make the situation measurably worse.

Meanwhile, Holt County in northwest Missouri remains the area with the most serious problems. The northern half of the county is either flooded or in jeopardy of being flooded.

Officials there said the situation appears similar to the devastating floods of 1993.

"It's very close, very similar," said Holt County Emergency Operations Director Gary Parker.

A levee near the town of Fortescue is in danger of flooding. The town has been evacuated. So have the towns of Bigelow and Craig. About 600 people have been moved. The Holt County Emergency Operations Center advised residents to expect to be out of their homes for six to eight weeks.

Floods have ripped out corn stalks in the county's farm fields and wind has pushed the debris toward a railroad bridge where water was pouring in, forming what officials described as a "corn dam."

The winds are also posing a hazard for the future of the levees.

"They just pound against the levee and damages them," said Fire District Chief Larry Hicks.

Crews are fighting to keep the floods away from the Craig Water Plant, a vital utility in the area.

"We're sparing nothing to keep water out of that plant," said Parker. "It not only serves Craig, but some other places that aren't in the flood areas."

Read more: http://www.kmbc.com/weather/28322243/detail.html#ixzz1Q9CwdBf7

Tom Becca talks about this a lot on A.M. radio! :o

So far, the river has stayed within its banks near Parkville, though the water is steadily creeping up and the current is twice as fast as I've ever seen it.

Some more photos I've taken over the last few days:



On the eastern bank of the Missouri River, Parkville, MO 6/18/2011:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2312.jpg


Same location, 6/21:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2315.jpg



They just closed off the street going down to the parking area next to the river, where I took the previous two photos. Pedestrian access is still allowed.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2317.jpg


A small creek about 1/8 mile from the river:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2318.jpg


Same location as earlier, though I kinda spaced off and didn't get quite as good a pic as I should have.  :-http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2320.jpg


More updates to follow.

Thanks Al-B!  I feel somewhat close to it, but very distantly removed....  there has not been much news about it here.  I hope the worst is over!

I think I should clarify to you all that even if the absolute worst happens and the flood should reach the 1993 levels, I live far enough away and high enough where the floodwaters pose no threat to me.

There is a bizarre story out of Pakistan about an alleged meltdown at one of the nuclear power plants in Nebraska along the Missouri River and how the Obama administration is covering it up:

http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/International/18-Jun-2011/US-orders-news-blackout-over-crippled-Nebraska-Nuclear-Plant-report

Weird stuff.  :o :o :o

There is a bizarre story out of Pakistan about an alleged meltdown at one of the nuclear power plants in Nebraska along the Missouri River and how the Obama administration is covering it up:

http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/International/18-Jun-2011/US-orders-news-blackout-over-crippled-Nebraska-Nuclear-Plant-report

Weird stuff.  :o :o :o



I like how they call it the "Obama Regime". ;D

There is a bizarre story out of Pakistan about an alleged meltdown at one of the nuclear power plants in Nebraska along the Missouri River and how the Obama administration is covering it up:


Yeah, it's a crock.  There is no news blackout.  The source of the report was debunked in post #30 on this thread, but the .pk news organization didn't know their source was not credible.  It's a dumb coincidence that the .pk news organization "The Nation" happens to share its name with a reputable US-based news/opinion magazine.  Between the .pk organization's mistake and unintelligent search engine optimization robots, the story went viral.

Here's the blog for OPPD and Ft. Calhoun station.  The punchline about the "news blackout" is that if you read between the lines, is that the NOTAM that tightened access to the airpsace around the plant was issued for one reason only: to keep dozens of news helicopters - all of which were trying to cover the (non-)story - from crashing into each other.  

Stay safe. Al, and thanks for on-the-ground coverage.  Citizen journalism is alive and well, and good on you for participating.

Went back to Parkville yesterday and today and took a few more pics.

6/26/2011

The same creek, maybe a few inches higher:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2322.jpg


View from the eastern bank. (Hope these photos aren't getting too repetitive...  :P) The water line seems to be higher up the steps:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2324.jpg



6/27/2011

Went back to Parkville today to take some more pics, but English Landing Park is now closed off with police tape:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2325.jpg

There were two Parkville police cruisers in the area, and before I could even ask one of the cops if I could still walk down to the river's edge she looked at me and simply said "Park's closed."  Given that Parkville cops are notorious around the KC metro for their Barney Fife levels of overzealotry, I didn't push the issue.


Fortunately there is a cigar bar with a huge deck right in that area, so I climbed the stairs up onto it and could get a good overall view of the park. As long as it is open, it will make an excellent vantage point for your fearless man-on-the-scene.  ;)

The creek is about halfway up on the right hand side of the photo, and in the background you can see the Mighty Mo herself:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2326.jpg


Close-up of the creek:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2327.jpg


An old railroad trestle, where the creek flows into the Missouri:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2328.jpg

Map of the affected area:

http://www.cafecedar.com/resources/map+of+cafe+cedar.JPG

Stay tuned for further bulletins.  ;)

6/28/2011


English Landing Park is starting to flood:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2329.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2330.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2333.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2335.jpg


The creek is over its banks now:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2331.jpg


Dude in the blue by the Grand Cherokee is an Explorer Scout, basically informing folks that the park is now off limits:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2332.jpg


View to the northeast from the cigar bar deck where I've been taking the more recent photos. The castle-looking building is Mackay Hall, on the campus of Park University. My girlfriend says it looks like Hogwarts.  ;D

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2334.jpg


The farmers market shelter, with Mackay Hall (Hogwarts) in the background. You can also see sandbags off to the left:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2336.jpg

6/30/2011


The major flooding has begun.


This is the view to the south (toward English Landing Park) behind the makeshift sandbag levee:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2337.jpg



The floodwaters are creeping closer to the sandbags:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2339.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2342.jpg



English Landing Park is almost competely underwater:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2343.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2344.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/AL-B_photos/IMG_2341.jpg



More updates to follow...