Special crisis counseling teams from the Iowa Department of Human Services are now working the flood zone areas of western Iowa. Mental Health specialist Karen Hyatt says their initial appearance created some mini crises of their own.  Hyatt says the teams are wearing red shirts that say: “Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team.” She says police and other officials were getting calls to ask if the team members were legitimate. Hyatt says they are in the area to help people deal with the stress of the situation.

She says the teams are going door-to-door and letting people in high-risk areas know the three levels of threat are so the people know when to evacuate, what to bring with them, where the buses will be, and other important information. Hyatt says the emotional toll of the flooding can be as trying as the physical aspect of moving items out of the way or building levees. And the response team works with people to help them deal with that emotional issues.

Wyatt ways they’re finding people who have been through numerous flood events before and are anxious about that. The crisis team can provide on site counseling to them if they need it, or refer them to community services. Wyatt says the physiological impact of flooding often doesn’t get enough attention.  “It’s one of the areas I think that goes unlooked at,” Wyatt says, “but what we’re hearing all up and down the western side of the state is that people are experiencing a lot of stress .” She says people are either in pre-flood staging, they’re getting ready for it and are asking “is it going to happen is it not, should I leave, shouldn’t I” and she says you add in concerns about the economy and there are all kinds of concern.

Crisis counseling teams have been active in Blencoe and Council Bluffs. They’ve also been invited to Hamburg, where many residents are expressing anxiety about the rising water.

(Dar Danielson/Radio Iowa)

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Airport officials in Lincoln, NE are working on a contingency plan just in case the airport in Omaha is flooded by the Missouri River. Lincoln Airport Executive Director John Wood said Thursday, that the airport is working on a worst-case scenario in case Eppley Airfield in Omaha has to close. Wood says if that happens, flights will likely be diverted to Lincoln and Des Moines. Omaha Airport Authority Director Steve Coufal says the airport is not considering closing.

Eppley is surrounded on three sides by the Missouri River and is protected by levees tall enough to withstand a flood stage of up to 42 feet. The river is expected to crest in Omaha at 36 feet and stay above flood stage for months.

Three non-injury accidents were investigated in Harlan over the past couple of weeks. Police in Harlan report the most recent accident happened June 10^th, at 6^th and Laurel Streets. Officials say Megan Behrendt was cited for failure to yield, after her vehicle struck a vehicle driven by Marcus Burmeister. Both drivers are from Harlan. The accident caused a total of $6,700 damage.

On June 5^th, Derek Monson, of Harlan, was cited for striking an unattended vehicle in the 500 block of Durant Street. The damage to Monson’s car, and a vehicle registered to Mark Greve, of Harlan, was estimated at $3,700 altogether.

And, on June 2^nd, Malerie Scheffler, of Harlan, was cited for failure to maintain control, after police investigated an accident at 4^th and Main Streets, where a bridge railing was destroyed.

A Red Oak woman was arrested Thursday evening following a traffic stop at 2^nd and Oak Streets, in Red Oak. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s office says 32-year old Becky Jo Hegarty faces charges of Littering, Driving While Barred, and Possession of Marijuana.

Hegarty was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.

The Harlan Police Department reports a Kirkman man was arrested on a drug charge earlier this month. In their activities report issued Thursday, the H-PD says 19-year old Kolten Kobold, of Kirkman, was charged on June 3^rd, with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was cited and then released from custody.

The next day, 27-year old Carl Parkhurst and 55-year old Ricky Hansen, both of Harlan, were arrested on public intoxication and disorderly conduct charges, after officers were called to a possible fight in the 500 block of Market Street. And, 20-year old Laramey Arkland, of Harlan, was arrested on a 3^rd degree theft charge, after Arkland allegedly took two 12-inch speakers, an amplifier and a CD visor sleeve full of CD’s, from a vehicle belonging to Brandon Allen.

On June 8^th, officers arrested 25-year old Terra Smagacz, of Harlan, on a charges of OWI and failure to have a valid driver’s license. Her arrest took place following a traffic stop. That same day, 70-year old Gary Ross, of Harlan, was arrested for disorderly conduct, following an alleged altercation between Ross and Harlan resident Kevin Clark.

The next day, 46-year old Dennis Armstrong, of Harlan, was arrested after police investigated a report of persons drinking alcohol in public. Armstrong was charged with public intoxication and interference with official acts.

On June 10^th, 14-year olds Curtis Scheffler and Andrew Nippert, both of Harlan, were cited on trespassing charges, after they were allegedly found to be operating ATV’s at the fairgrounds. Officials say since it was not their first offense, the teens’ ATV’s were impounded.

Also on June 10^th, 56-year old Ronald Henriksen, of Harlan was arrested following a traffic stop on charges of OWI 2^nd offense, failure to have a valid driver’s license, and a moving violation related to the operation of his headlights.

The Harlan Police Department reports eight people were cited over the past week for Minor in Possession of Alcohol. Officials say an investigation into a noise complaint on June 9^th at 1803 Lincoln Avenue, resulted in the arrest of four male juveniles. 17-year olds Brian Schechinger, Brock Travis, John Prichard and Joshua Carlisle, all from Harlan, were brought to the Harlan Police Department, cited for Minor in Possession, and released to the custody of their parents.

And, on Sunday (June 12^th), 18-year olds Bailey McGrath and Jandy Johnston, and 19-year old Jill Haupts, all from Harlan, along with 19-year old Trisha Nowatzke, from Earling, were cited for Possession of Alcohol under the legal age, after a Harlan Police officer observed the teens allegedly in possession of booze when he pulled up next to their vehicle, in the parking lot of a business. All four were cited for the offense and released.

That same day, 21-year old Zachary Culp, from Harlan, was cited for selling alcohol to persons under the legal age, after officers observed him allegedly committing the act at the Harlan Kum and Go Store.

The flooding Missouri River is forcing the railroads to reroute their traffic and make the trains longer than normal. In Atlantic, City Administrator Doug Harris says that means Union Pacific rail traffic through the City will be on the increase, and could affect the length of time you spend waiting at railroad crossings.

Harris told the City Council during their meeting Wednesday night, he’s received word from the Union Pacific Railroad, that they will be routing 8-more trains than normal daily, through Atlantic, because of the Midwestern floods. The U-P says the trains will be more frequent, and longer than those that normally go through the City. 

Railroad officials are asking motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists to use extra caution, when approaching and crossing the tracks.

Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management officials have released their latest update on flood information pertaining to the Missouri River:

• Officials say technical assistance has been requested from the Army Corps of Engineers for all counties along the Missouri River from Woodbury County south. Staging areas for water, sandbags and pumps have been established in Avoca, Onawa, and Denison.
• A boil was reported Wednesday afternoon on a new levee near the Desoto Bend Wildlife Refuge. The Corps is providing Direct Assistance to address the issue. Should a breach occur, the highest impact would be to US Highway 30. The lowest section of Highway 30 is mile marker 2.1. The DOT will survey to confirm.
• Northbound I-29 is open between Rock Port, Missouri, and Iowa exit 10 (Iowa 2). However, the Iowa and Missouri departments of transportation are working closely to monitor this very volatile situation. Northbound I-29 will be kept open as long as possible for local and emergency traffic. Other traffic is urged to find an alternate route around the flooding in southwest Iowa and northwest Missouri.
• The Dept. of Human Services is working with care facilities to make contingency plans, should they have to evacuate.
• The DNR is providing technical assistance to waste water facilities, water supplies, industry, fuel stations, etc. Conservation officers in Hamburg and Missouri Valley are in place for rescue missions, if needed.
• The Iowa Department of Corrections has crews in Hamburg, Council Bluffs, and Onawa for helping out with sandbagging efforts.
• And, at their request, the Iowa Dept. of Public Health is working closely with Monona County Emergency Management and Burgess Medical Center for a potential patient evacuation plan.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – About 2,700 Omahans would have to evacuate if the Missouri River were to breach a levee on the city’s northeast side. City officials released details of the evacuation plan today (Thursday).

A new map from the U.S. Corps of Engineers shows that any massive levee breach would send water north of downtown, flooding the Qwest convention center and the city’s airport. Assistant Omaha Fire Chief Dan Stolinski says the city’s new home of the College World Series, TD Ameritrade Park, would be spared. Nearby Carter Lake, Iowa, would be underwater. That city has its own evacuation plan.

The river’s Omaha water level on Thursday morning was a little over 33 feet. Flood stage is 29 feet. The corps expects the river at Omaha to crest between 34 and 36 feet.