On April 3rd, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, and Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts all met together with the U.S. Army Corps Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assess the recent flood damage along the Missouri River.
Finding Solutions
In 2011 the Missouri River had flooded, causing destruction all along the river. At that time the Governors of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, along with Wyoming, all agreed that something had to be done about controlling future flooding. This discussion between Missouri’s, Iowa’s, and Nebraska’s governors is the first step in telling the U.S. Army Corps Engineers (USACE) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) what exactly they need to do to fix the flooding problems.
“Nebraska is just starting to recover and rebuild after the most widespread natural disaster in our state’s history,” said Governor Ricketts.“Today, we had a clear message for the Army Corps: We want to see people and communities put first.” [1]
Time for Change
“It’s long past time for change,” said Governor Parson. “We must begin a serious discussion about how we improve flood control on the Missouri River. One-third of Missouri’s most productive farmlands’ fate rests in the hands of those who manage our rivers – the Corps. The Corps maintains one of the nation’s largest flood-control systems on the Missouri River mainstem, but the devastating flooding we are experiencing and the previous record 2011 flooding have demonstrated the current system is insufficient to protect us.”
All three Governors agreed that they needed to take a more active role in instructing the federal government on how to manage the flooding along the Missouri River. Governor Reynolds stated that the river needs a long term improvement plan to establish an effective response to future flooding. “It’s time for a coordinated, consistent approach to Missouri River Management, levee reconstruction, and a long-term regional improvement plan,” said Governor Reynolds.
Yesterday, Governors Meet with Corps of Engineers to Call for Change to Missouri River Management.
🔗https://t.co/9jcGsyHXnG pic.twitter.com/AzaXO4xdcj
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) April 4, 2019
To watch the entire press conference that was held in Council Bluffs, Iowa, click here.
Notes:
- ^“Governors Meet with Corps of Engineers to Call for Change to Missouri River Management | Governor Michael L. Parson.” 4 Apr. 2019, governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governors-meet-corps-engineers-call-change-missouri-river-management. (go back ↩)
