SIOUX CITY, IA -
(SIOUX CITY, IA) Siouxlanders got the chance to talk one–on–one with the Army Corps of Engineers about last summer's flood. The Corps broke down its spring operating plan Friday. This was the sixth and final open house style meeting among all of the Missouri River basins.
The Corps explained how flood control storage is one piece of the puzzle... they say preventing another flood from happening also includes channel capacity and reducing encroachment in the flood plain.
Right now, they expect 2012 to be below the average rate of runoff, especially with the dry winter and spring the region has had, but it's still early.
"We just want them to know that two feet of water in the living room is not acceptable. When they hire somebody to hold their thumb in the dam and they don't do it, you get a new thumb," said Larry Legg, a Jackson, NE flood victim.
The Corps talked about as everyone looks to the future, it's going to take more than just one group's effort to avoid another flood.
"I think the most important thing for folks to be looking for now is how do we move ahead as a community, as a basin and make sure that if we ever had a repeat of the 2011 flood event, that we would have better results and the Corps of Engineers certainly has a role in that, in providing those better results," said Jody Farhat, the Chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Office.
The Corps mentioned it now holds conference calls twice a month with the media and congressional delegation updating them with current conditions. Head here to find the audio: http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/pa/2012Teleconference/pressconf_arch.html and on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/missouri-river-basin-water/id508457675
