(This article comes courtesy of Missourinet.)
Gov. Mike Parson has signed an executive order to prepare for potential Missouri River flooding that has put some northwest Iowa towns underwater. The flooding is moving downstream along the Missouri River basin.
Parson’s order extends a current State of Emergency that was first declared on May 2nd to respond to severe weather, then extended again on May 30th by Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe after tornadoes struck southeastern Missouri.
“We have seen the tremendous, destructive force of flooding this past week in neighboring states to our north and must ensure resources are available should flooding threaten areas of our state,” said the governor.
According to an email from the governor’s office, extending the State of Emergency ensures the state can directly assist the locals, allowing increased flexibility and capacity to support response and recovery efforts.
A State of Emergency is also the first step required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to seek a major disaster declaration if statewide damages meet federal requirements.
The order will expire on July 31, unless otherwise terminated or extended.
Iowa leaders say their preliminary estimate is that at least 1,900 properties in 22 counties have been swamped by floodwaters with hundreds of homes destroyed.
