BLAIR, Neb. (AP) – The utilities that run Nebraska’s two nuclear power plants are trying to knock down persistent rumors about safety as Missouri River floodwaters approach. Federal regulators and the media have toured Fort Calhoun and Cooper nuclear plants this week. Omaha Public Power District CEO Gary Gates says there’s no chance of a disaster like the one in Japan after an earthquake and tsunami struck.

The key difference is the river flooding has progressed slowly, giving utilities plenty of preparation time. Fort Calhoun has at least nine backup power sources in place, including six different power lines and two diesel generators.

Cooper also has two main lines of outside power, at least three generators on site and a battery system that can power the plant in an emergency.

The Iowa Association of Realtors reports that home sales increased just over 14-percent in May and the average sale price for homes was up six-point-four-percent. Association president, Kurt Schade  of Des Moines, says it’s good to see the numbers go up. He says all real estate is local, but they see some positive trends across the state in sales prices and the number of sales. The association reported 28-hundred- 73 homes sold in May compared to 25-hundred-19 in April. The average sale price of homes was 141-thousand-942 in May, compared to 133-thousand-418 in April. Schade says sales generally start moving up this time of year.

He says they had good weather in May and the pool of buyers was up as people like to move once school is out. Schade says the upward trend could continue if the market conditions don’t change. Schade says if there is not any other action by the federal government that prevents people from getting loans, they believe buyers are looking to buy homes at prices comparable to the early 2000’s with low interest rates. Schade says the state has been lucky to avoid the major ups and downs that have plagued other states.

He says Iowa is a conservative state and that has shown in the housing market with no “significant appreciation” and also haven’t seen the devaluation that other states have seen recently. Twenty-three of Iowa’s 44 local boards reported increases in average sale price, while nine boards had increases in the number of sales from May 2010. Nineteen boards showed a decrease in the average number of days on the market.

(Dar Danielson/Radio Iowa)

Three more shelters are now open round-the-clock in Iowa and Nebraska along the flooding Missouri River. Those shelters are in Malvern and Missouri Valley, Iowa, and Peru, Nebraska. Danelle Schlegelmilch is spokeswoman for the Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross. Despite so many people already being evacuated, Schlegelmilch says the shelters’ cots aren’t yet very full. “Such generous people have opened up their homes to neighbors and friends,” she says. She reminds, “You can go there for information, for a hot meal, for referrals, for minor first aid and just to have a shoulder to lean on. We have trained mental health professionals who are here to help you emotionally, not just physically.” Schlegelmilch says the shelter in Missouri Valley is already putting up people for overnight stays.

“A lot of those folks were moving from the Fort Calhoun shelter, just to accommodate them a little bit better,” she says. “That’s one thing I wanted to remind people, is that if you have a need and you need somewhere to go, you don’t have to just go to the shelter in your town. You’re welcome to go to any of these shelters if you’re affected by the flooding.” Council Bluffs is under Alert One Status, meaning, there is a possibility of evacuations. Schlegelmilch says there likely will be multiple shelters set up within Council Bluffs if that order comes.

She says people will be steered first to a reception site at Iowa Western Community College and from there, they’ll be sent to smaller, local shelters to prevent overcrowding. The Red Cross says those needing a shelter are asked to bring any prescriptions and emergency medications, foods for special diets, identification to show residence in affected areas and supplies for children and infants, including diapers, formula, toys and baby food. They’re asked to bring extra clothing, pillows, blankets and their own hygiene supplies. Due to public health regulations, pets are not permitted in shelters unless they’re service animals.

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

The Superintendent of the Lewis Central Community School District says past issues with the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB), along with the organization’s financial stability and credibility, have prompted the district’s board to end its membership with the group. Superintendent Mark Schweer told the Omaha World-Herald the board voted unanimously, Monday, to end its involvement with the IASB. Schweer said questions concerning the necessity of memberships in both the IASB and the Iowa School Finance Information Service also played into the school boards’ decision.

An IASB audit last year showed thousands of dollars spent on trips, restaurants and salaries. Renewal of the IASB membership would have cost the district $7,993. Lewis Central remains a member of Iowa School Finance Information Services.

BLAIR, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha Public Power District is going to great lengths to show that its Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant remains safe even though the main buildings are surrounded by floodwater from the Missouri River.

OPPD offered tours of the plant Monday to the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, members of Congress and the media to show off the measures they’ve taken to keep the plant dry inside.

Workers use an elevated catwalk to access Fort Calhoun because the parking lot is covered with at least 2 feet of floodwater.

Plant manager Tim Nellenbach says there is little chance of a serious problem at Fort Calhoun because the plant still has all of its electrical power sources and it remains shut down.

AMES, Iowa – June 27, 2011 – Flood mitigation work will continue along Interstate 29
near Blencoe through the end of this week, according to the Iowa Department of
Transportation (DOT). 

Northbound I-29 is closed between exits 105 (Monona County Road E-60 interchange
near Blencoe) and 112 (Iowa 175 interchange near Onawa). Follow the detour on Monona
County Road K-45. 

When the northbound lanes of I-29 reopen, a flood barrier wall will be in place on
both the outside and inside shoulders of the highway.

Work on the flood barrier wall along the southbound lanes of I-29 in this same area
is near completion. A width limit restriction of 12 feet has been imposed.

AMES, Iowa – June 27, 2011- The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is
announcing plans to temporarily close U.S. 30 between Missouri Valley, Iowa, and
Blair, Neb., beginning Wednesday, June 29, at 8:30 a.m. 

The purpose of the closure is to install a Trapbag® flood-control barrier along the
south side of the roadway. The urgency of getting the barrier wall installed will
require a number of workers, many trucks and heavy equipment, and will take the
entire roadway area to perform the work. 

The Iowa DOT’s plan is to run an around-the-clock operation to expedite reopening of
the road.  The road could possibly be reopened as soon as 48 hours after the start
of the project. Timing of completion of the work is dependent on a number of
factors, including equipment reliability, rising flood water levels, weather
conditions, and other issues. 

The Iowa portion of the detour, established for persons traveling from Missouri
Valley, Iowa, to Blair, Nebr., is: I-29 south to I-680E, take I-680E to I-80W, and
then take I-80W to the Iowa/Nebraska state line at Council Bluffs/Omaha. 

The public will be notified when the roadway is reopened to travel. 

When the roadway is reopened, work on a barrier wall on the north side of the
roadway will begin. This work may result in brief temporary closures, a lane closure
and use of pilot vehicles or flagging operations. 

Drivers must exercise additional caution while traveling on the roadway during
installation of the barrier wall. Workers and equipment will be in close proximity
to the travel lane. Slow down for conditions and obey all signs and instructions.

AMES, Iowa – June 27, 2011 – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is
reporting that Iowa 175 is closed from Interstate 29 west across the Missouri River
into Nebraska due to flooding. This is the river crossing between Onawa, Iowa, and
Decatur, Neb.

Severe river bank erosion caused by flooding along the east abutment of the Decatur
bridge has prompted the closure. 

The Iowa DOT, Burt County [Nebraska] Bridge Commission (operator of the toll bridge)
and Nebraska Department of Roads will be conducting an assessment of the situation
to determine what, if any, measures can be taken to prevent further erosion and make
the bridge safe for travel.  

The public will be informed as additional information becomes available. The
duration of the closure is unknown at this time. 

The Iowa portion of the detour for this closure, for persons traveling from Onawa,
Iowa, to Decatur, Neb., is: I-29 north to Sioux City, I-29 west to the U.S. 77 exit,
then south on U.S. 77 into Nebraska.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A third suspect in the shooting death of an Omaha man has been arrested in Iowa. Police say Omar Martinez was found in a Council Bluffs hotel Monday. Martinez faces charges of second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony in connection with the death of Blaise Benscoter. Benscoter was found wounded Thursday in an apartment and died a short time later at a hospital.

Twenty-year-old Sean Collins and 38-year-old Donald Bridgeford have also been arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Police say they’re still looking for a fourth man, 48-year-old, Donald Krisor, 48, in connection with the case.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry E. Branstad today received notification that President  Obama has authorized a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for six counties impacted by ongoing flooding conditions along the Missouri River since May 25, 2011.

“I am pleased to see the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for these six counties came through,” Branstad said. “As we are still actively fighting the flood, this declaration provides a much needed financial boost to our local governments.”

The declaration by the President will provide federal funding to Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Pottawattamie, and Woodbury counties under the Public Assistance Program. This funding will be available to eligible public entities and select nonprofit agencies to cover costs incurred for implementing emergency protective measures and for the anticipated need for removal of debris.

In addition, the declaration makes available Direct Federal Assistance, which may include sheltering supplies and swift-water rescue teams if needed. “Communities along the Missouri River have exhausted their budgets in responding to the flood,” said HSEMD Administrator Brigadier General Derek Hill. “This declaration not only provides Direct Federal Assistance to aid in the response, but also provides the funding to replenish local budgets and assist with debris removal when the flood waters recede.”

The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division continues to evaluate the flood’s impact on Iowans. This most recent declaration does not include aid to individuals and businesses. However, the Division is working with local emergency management agencies to determine the number of homes impacted by the flood and the damages these impacted homes have sustained.

The Division, along with FEMA, the Small Business Administration, and local authorities will be conducting preliminary damage assessments next week to determine if the damages that have occurred thus far are sufficient to warrant the inclusion of the Individual Assistance Program in this Major Disaster Declaration.

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 12th Major Presidential Disaster Declaration Iowa has received since March 2007.