06 May 2013

Iowa receives Presidential Disaster Declaration

By Randy Stalsberg

(DES MOINES) - Today, Gov. Terry E. Branstad received word that a Presidential Disaster Declaration has been issued for five Iowa counties. The five counties included in the declaration are Dickinson, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola and Sioux.

The Governor sent the request for the declaration on Friday, April 26, in response to severe weather which occurred April 9-11, 2013.  The severe weather produced damaging winds, heavy rains, thunderstorms, freezing rain, ice and snow that caused damage to utility lines, poles, trees and vegetation.

The declaration by the President will provide federal funding to the declared counties under the Public Assistance Program. A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance puts into motion long-term federal recovery programs, some of which are matched by state programs, and designed to help public entities and select non-profits. Public Assistance funds may be used for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and may include debris removal, emergency protective measures, repair of damaged public property, loans needed by communities for essential government functions and grants for public schools.

The Governor also received notification that the Presidential Disaster Declaration includes funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state. With this funding, Iowa will be able to minimize the impact of future natural disasters by taking steps now to strengthen existing infrastructure.

This Presidential Disaster Declaration is the 15th Major Presidential Disaster Declaration Iowa has received since March 2007.

The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division leads, coordinates and supports homeland security and emergency management functions in order to establish sustainable communities and ensure economic opportunities for Iowa and its citizens.

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03 May 2013

USGS Continues to Provide Critical Flood Information

By Jon Nania

As lingering spring rains soak eastern Iowa, crews from the U.S. Geological Survey continue efforts to make sure the streamgaging network is providing basic scientific information needed by water-resource managers and the community.

"The accurate flow data from the USGS is an essential part of NWS flood forecasts and warnings," said Jeff Zogg, NWS Senior Service Hydrologist. "Even small errors can negatively impact flood forecasts."

The National Weather Service uses USGS streamgaging information for flood forecasting.  When flooding is frequent, the NWS stays in constant contact with the USGS. The USGS streamgaging network is the principal source of data used by the NWS to develop flood forecasts because of the stage and discharge information they provide.

The USGS operates 150 gages in Iowa that collect both stage and discharge information.

A reliable flood forecast, and subsequent warnings, requires a current source of stage, discharge, and precipitation data. NWS flood forecasts are based on river models that provide estimates of how a river will respond to rainfall. River stage and discharge data provided by USGS gaging stations are essential components of these river models and flood forecasts.

"The USGS places the utmost importance on the high quality and consistency of its streamgage network," said Kevin Richards, Director of the USGS Iowa Water Science Center. "Streamflow information is used in countless ways by government agencies, private industries, and the general public."

In addition to routine discharge measurements made at USGS streamgages, the USGS made 34 additional flood measurements once the rivers started rising in mid-April. With the forecasts calling for additional rain and snow over the next week, USGS scientists will be making extra measurements and checking equipment to assure the information is available for decision makers.

The real-time streamgaging information is available on the USGS Iowa website. Access current flood and high flow conditions across the country by visiting the USGSWaterWatchwebsite.

03 May 2013

The Salvation Army Responds to Spring Flooding

By Holly Nomura

Emergency Disaster Service (EDS) VolunteersDeploy Throughout Illinois & Iowa

QUAD CITIES, USA: Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) volunteers are being deployed to serve meals and provide emotional and spiritual support to those affected by the floods in Ottawa, IL and Canton, IL.

The spring flooding of 2013 has caused great water damage to property and left people homeless throughout the Quad Cities and surrounding areas.

The Salvation Army served 100+ cups of hot coffee and 200+ snacks to the city-employed sandbaggers on the Mississippi River on a very cold April evening. Steve Garrington, Quad Cities EDS Director, states that "The Salvation Army's mission is to provide a compassionate response to the Quad Cities and the surrounding areas, as well as Boston, west Texas, everywhere there is human need."

After the Barstow Levy breach, The Salvation Army supplied the Carbon Cliff/Barstow Fire Department 200 flood clean up kits. The department's staff walked door to door with the kits to be sure every home had adequate access to assistance.
Another 50 clean up kits were forwarded to East Moline Fire Stations by the Rock Island County Health Department. The Scott County Health Department is waiting for the waters to recede before they make the Salvation Army-provided clean up kits available.

Monetary donations may be sent to your local Salvation Army, online at www.salvationarmyusa.org, byphone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

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03 May 2013

Our Global Warming Debate was Snowed Out

By Centennial Institute CCU

New Date for Snow-delayed Climate Debate, May 13

Ethics professor Philip Cafaro (pictured) was prevented by a blizzard from debating energy expert Robert Zubrin on whether population growth and carbon fuels are overheating the planet. They'll finally face off on May 13 at the CCU Beckman Center. Don your long johns and join us. No charge, but reservations are required.

 Philip Cafaro image

Learn More & Register


01 May 2013

Conservation Stewardship Program Applications Due by May 31

By USDA Office of Communications
Voluntary program allows producers to maintain or increase productivity of their operations while also conserving natural resources

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will provide nearly $175 million in funding for up to 12.6 million additional acres of enrollment this year.

"The Conservation Stewardship Program is different than other USDA financial assistance programs," said Vilsack. "CSP offers payments to producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship. It's about conservation activities on the entire operation focusing on multiple resource concerns."

Vilsack explained that although applications are accepted all year, farmers, ranchers and forestland owners interested in CSP should submit applications by May 31 to their local NRCS office to ensure they are considered for this year's funding.

The voluntary program allows producers to go the extra mile in conserving natural resources while also maintaining or increasing the productivity of their operations.

Playing a significant part in conserving and improving our nation's resources, producers enrolled an additional 12.1 million acres in CSP last year, bringing the total number of acres to more than 50 million.

Many of the CSP enhancements improve soil quality, which helps land become more resilient to extreme weather.

Several other improvements are available for producers, including intensive rotational grazing, intercropping and wildlife friendly fencing.

Because of the extreme weather in 2012, more interest and participation in the cover crop enhancements is expected this year, according to NRCS experts.

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if the program is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, stewardship threshold requirements and payment types.

For the checklist and additional information, visit the CSP website

(http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/csp/) or visit your local USDA NRCS office.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

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29 Apr 2013

Grassley supports Branstad's request for federal disaster assistance

By Rick Martin

Monday, April 29, 2013

 WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley has asked the President to grant the request made by Governor Terry Branstad for a declaration of a major disaster in response to damaging winds, heavy rains, thunderstorms, freezing rain, and ice and snow this month.

In a letter of request sent Friday, Grassley said, "The Governor determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments to handle effectively and federal assistance is needed."

Severe weather on April 9, 10, and 11 caused significant damage to utility lines, poles, and vegetation.  The Iowa counties with the most severe damage are Dickinson, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, and Sioux.

Here is the text of Grassley's letter to the President Barack Obama:

 

April 26, 2013

 

The Honorable Barack Obama

President of the United States of America

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

 

Dear Mr. President:

I respectfully ask that you grant the request made by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad for a declaration of a major disaster for the State of Iowa as a result of severe weather that produced damaging winds, heavy rains, thunderstorms, freezing rain, along with ice and snow beginning on April 9, 2013, and ending on April 11, 2013.  This weather caused significant damages to utility lines, poles, and vegetation.  The counties with the most severe damage are Dickinson, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, and Sioux.

The Governor determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments to handle effectively and federal assistance is needed.

Thank you for your prompt consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley

United States Senators
29 Apr 2013

Gov. Branstad requests Presidential Disaster Declaration for public assistance for five Iowa counties

By Randy Stalsberg

(DES MOINES) - Today, Gov. Terry E. Branstad signed a letter to be delivered to President Obama requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration for five Iowa counties. The five counties in the request are Dickinson, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola and Sioux.

The Governor is making the request for Public Assistance Program funding in response to severe weather between April 9 and 11, 2013. The severe weather produced damaging winds, heavy rains, thunderstorms, freezing rain, ice and snow that caused damage to utility lines, poles, trees and vegetation.

A joint federal, state and local preliminary damage assessment of the five counties found the severe weather caused an estimated $6 million of damage that could be eligible under the Public Assistance Program. Public Assistance funds may be used to rebuild damaged infrastructure that may include roads, bridges, culverts and other public facilities, or to cover costs of emergency work during and debris removal after storms.

The Governor's letter to President Obama, including the damage estimates, is available at www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov.

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29 Apr 2013

Members of Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee release Asian carp in North America distribution maps

By Sarah Gross
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) today, April 26, released "Asian Carp Distribution in North America," which displays current data on the presence of bighead carp and silver carp at all life stages, as well as black carp and grass carp occurrences, in the Mississippi River, Ohio River and Great Lakes. The maps can be found at: http://www.asiancarp.us/problem.htm.

"The intent of this succinct, graphical documentation of locations of Asian carp individual captures, as well as areas with established populations, is to be a 'living resource' for ACRCC partners, decision makers and the public to access specific, timely information," said USACE Fish Biologist and eDNA Program Manager Kelly Baerwaldt.

Data were compiled through responses to an Asian Carp Questionnaire that was distributed to biologists at federal, state, academic, private-consulting and non-governmental organizations; the ACRCC Mon! itoring and Response Work Group, which include data since 2009 in detail for the Chicago Area Waterway System and a majority of the Illinois Waterway; and the USGS's Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database.

"The ACRCC continues to take the threat of Asian carp as very real and to conduct intensive monitoring to help determine the threat of this invasive fish," said Baerwaldt.

Zero Asian carp were captured or observed above the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal electric barriers in the last two years after hundreds of interagency monitoring trips, including 192 hours of electrofishing and nearly 82 miles of traditional netting, which resulted in the capture of nearly 100,000 fish of other species.

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29 Apr 2013

The GREAT MARCH FOR CLIMATE ACTION

By Ed Fallon
-- stepping forward for our Planet, our Future --


Dear Friends,

Setting up a 3,000 mile march involves a lot more than drawing a bright-colored line across a map of the US. We are fortune to have Courtney Kain on board to coordinate this mammoth task. Courtney's background includes a four-year stint with the Army National Guard, managing logistics for several thousand troops at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa.

"We'd go on training marches through a variety of terrains, often for a week or two, camping in a lot of different places under some pretty adverse circumstances," said Courtney. "There was a lot of integration between planning the route and planning our equipment needs. Of course, we carried 60-pound packs on our backs and had our guns. Honestly, I'm looking forward to not having to deal with hauling either of those on the Climate March!"

Like any big event, much of Courtney's work with the National Guard involved tedious behind-the-scenes labor. "Often, we'd be out on the base at o'dark thirty, sometimes in sub-zero weather, doing vehicle maintenance and what not. We not only had to issue equipment but keep tabs on it as well. Marching boots were probably the most important piece of equipment. I remember a lovely set of massive blisters during my early days with the Guard."

Courtney appreciates all the folks in communities across the country who are stepping forward to help with on-the-ground challenges in setting up the route. "We can do a lot from our headquarters here in Des Moines, especially with the help of the Internet," said Courtney. "But there's no way we can figure out all the details without our supporters' eyes and ears helping to identify the best routes and campsites in communities we'll march through."

Our plan is to release the full description of the March route sometime next month. In the meantime, we need your help, not just working with Courtney on setting up the route, but helping pay for all the costs involved. To that end . . .

If you haven't already, please become a March Starter. Donate between 1 cent and 33-1/3 cents per mile - between $30 and $1,000 - to help Courtney finish this task at a pace that would impress the US Army. Click here for details, and thanks to all who have stepped forward so far.
25 Apr 2013

American Lung Association State of the Air Report Released

By Micki Sandquist

The American Lung Association's annual "State of the Air 2013" report finds that air quality nationwide continues the long-term trend to much healthier air. The strongest progress came in lower levels of year-round particle pollution across much of the nation.

"State of the Air 2013" is the Lung Association's 14th annual, national air quality "report card." It uses the most recent air pollution data, compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the two most widespread types of pollution - ozone (smog) and particle pollution (PM 2.5, also known as soot). The report grades counties and ranks cities and counties based on their scores for ozone, year-round particle pollution and short-term particle pollution levels.

Visit the State of the Air Iowa Report to see how your community ranks and to learn how to protect yourself and your family from air pollution.

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