July 2007
Emergency management officials
are trying to contain damage from an oil refinery spill in Coffeyville,
Kansas that occurred over the weekend when raging floodwaters breached a
levee Sunday as heavy rains swept the southeastern section of the state.
At the Coffeyville Resources Refinery more than 42,000 gallons of crude
oil spilled into the overflowing Verdigris River, where a smelly oil slick
is now flowing south towards Oklahoma.
On Saturday, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius declared a state of
emergency for 16 counties including Coffey County. President George W.
Bush issued a presidential disaster declaration for the area on Monday.
As southeast Kansas continues to deal with the effects of major flooding,
Governor Sebelius today signed an executive order lifting certain
restrictions on motor vehicles carrying relief supplies to the area. She
suspended fees for over-dimension/overweight permits, requirements for
registration and purchasing of fuel permits, as well as requirements for
licensing and operating authority.
"The extent of the flooding is tremendous and getting homes, buildings and
basic infrastructure repaired and rebuilt is going to be a massive
undertaking," said Sebelius. "We want to eliminate any barriers that could
slow the delivery of relief to the Kansans affected by the flooding so
that the process of recovery can start as soon as possible."
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Region 7 sent two
coordinators to Coffeyville early Sunday morning to work with the local
Emergency Operations Center.
On Monday, more coordinators from EPA Regions 6 and 7 were dispatched to
Coffeyville with an EPA Mobile Command Post to coordinate pollution
assessments from the flooding.
Flood watches remain in effect for areas of Oklahoma and Texas where major
flooding now is occurring or is imminent. Fifteen rivers are forecast to
reach major flood stage across Texas and Oklahoma, forcing thousands of
people from their homes.
On Monday morning, parts of the town of Erie, Kansas were flooded with up
to four feet of water, as levees in the vicinity of Erie and Chanute,
Kansas breeched in three places. About 100 people were evacuated to two
shelters, and major roads in Chanute now are open.
Most counties in Kansas are reporting that flood waters are beginning to
recede and roads are starting to open. Local damage assessments are
beginning as roads become accessible.
All 77 Oklahoma counties remain under a state of emergency and the
Department of Emergency Management, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the
National Guard are at work to deal with the crisis.
The Oklahoma City metro area has had 20 consecutive days of rain.
Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry visited the flooded areas today. Accompanied
by state and local emergency management officials, he flew over
Bartlesville, South Coffeyville and Coffeyville, Kansas to view the
Coffeyville oil refinery spill now heading towards Oklahoma.
"To see this devastation in person is truly heartbreaking," the governor
said. "Thousands of Oklahomans have lost property and hundreds of homes
have been damaged. Submerged roads and bridges are making travel in some
communities virtually impossible."
The governor took an aerial tour of the Miami area in northeast Oklahoma
before landing and visiting with victims and first responders. Miami now
is planning for evacuations as the Neosho River continues to rise.
"In some communities such as Miami - where floods are continuing and
waters have yet to crest - the focus is on evacuating residents and
protecting property," Governor Henry said. "In other areas, such as
Shawnee and Bartlesville, damage assessments are being conducted and I
anticipate asking President Bush for assistance before the end of the
week."
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management continues to receive
damage reports from counties, cities and towns impacted by storms and
flooding.
In Washington County, Oklahoma some 3,000 residents have been displaced by
flooding since Friday, some taking shelter with the American Red Cross
Bartlesville, and in the Dewey County Red Cross Shelter. The Salvation
Army is providing feeding services for shelters and responders.
American Red Cross disaster relief workers from across the United States
are joining their colleagues in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas to help shelter
displaced residents and provide emergency assistance, food, shelter, and
cleaning supplies.
As the weather permits, teams of relief workers will conduct disaster
assessments and determine how the Red Cross can best help meet the needs
of the thousands of flood victims. Those needing to contact loved ones are
urged to use the Red Cross Safe and Well website.
https://disastersafe.redcross.org/
Damage assessments are taking place today in Comanche County, and
assessors began Monday to investigate damage in areas of Pottawatomie
County hit hard by flooding last week.
In Texas, more heavy rainfall is forecast for areas that already have been
inundated with rain from central Texas south to the Rio Grande.
Some places could see from three to five inches of rain, and river
flooding may increase this week, forecasters warn.
On Monday, torrential downpours pounded south Texas across portions of the
Texas Coastal Plains and Coastal Bend areas and southwest near the lower
Rio Grande Valley.
Numerous roads have been closed due to flooding in seven Missouri
counties, where heavy rains have pounded the state since mid-June. Six
homes in Bates County, Missouri were destroyed with two more homes
flooded. Some evacuations and water rescues have taken place.
In Polk County, Missouri an estimated 10 miles of roads have been damaged.
Up to 10 feet of water was reported to cover roads in Bates County. Up to
five feet of water was reported over roads in Vernon County, Missouri.
The National Weather Service forecasts that the Osage River in Vernon and
Bates Counties will crest on July 7, 2006, at a projected 54 feet, which
is 24 feet above flood stage and three feet above record levels set in
1986.
Near record flooding on South Grand River near Urich and Big Creek near
Blairstown are predicted.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, is working with local,
state and federal governments as it coordinates the federal response. FEMA
has provided three trailers of drinking water to Kansas as requested by
the state and has begun to conduct damage assessments.
"FEMA has been in constant contact with our partners at every level of
government and with volunteer organizations such as the American Red Cross
as we work together to respond to these floods," said FEMA Administrator
David Paulison. "While state and local first responders will always play a
primary role during such disasters, FEMA and our federal partners are
moving quickly to support their activities and deliver aid to those in
need."
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is performing levee assessments, has
supplied two pumps and provided 26,000 sandbags in Kansas.
The Tulsa District of the Corps of Engineers manages the flood pools at
eight lakes in Kansas, 23 in Oklahoma, and two in Texas. These lakes
continue to rise as widespread rainfall continues across Kansas, Oklahoma,
and Texas, and the Corps warns that as the lakes fill their flood control
pools, rivers will rise still further when the Corps releases impounded
water to protect dam structures.
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