KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City District declared a flood emergency mid-day on March 13, 2019 due to concerns resulting from heavy rainfall, saturated and snow-covered soils across the basin, and increased releases from Gavins Point Dam. The resulting effects have pushed river stages into minor, moderate, and major flood stage at various locations along the Missouri River from Rulo, Nebraska to St. Louis, Missouri.
Four non-federal levees have breached in the Kansas City District’s area of responsibility. River stages are currently rebounding in and around Rulo, Nebraska and St. Joseph, Missouri. This increases the chances that additional non-federal levee systems will overtop today. The water levels are dangerously high and present great risk to people, property and levee systems.
Our Emergency Operations Center remains activated at level II Partial Activation. The flood crest will move down stream, impacting the non-federal levees systems more than the federal levees along the Missouri River.
Col. Doug Guttormsen, Kansas City District commander, affirmed that the district has the resources to manage the current high water situation and stressed that the public needs to remain vigilant as public safety is this district’s #1 priority.
The Kansas City District is closely monitoring conditions in the basin and providing information and assistance to state and local partners. The district is in this for the long haul and continues to work with state and local officials both during and in the recovery phase of the event.
The Kansas City District is a team of dedicated professionals with a strong heritage and proven results who, in collaboration with our partners, proudly serve in the Heartland providing leadership, technical excellence, and innovative solutions to the nation's most complex problems.