UPDATE: Local officials urge residents to be cautious of flooded areas

UPDATE:

On Tuesday, city and county officials issued a warning about the potential danger the recent rainfall has caused.

Salt Creek is rising.  So much so that it’s not far from flooding areas of the capital city.

"It takes several hours for rain water to reach the various creeks throughout the county," said Todd Wiltgen, Chair of the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners.  "It is difficult to predict the exact level and timing of potential flooding."

Although they said they’re not expecting anything like what Lincoln saw in May 2015, they want residents to be prepared just in case.

"We need people who are in low–lying areas along salt creek to be thinking now about what they will do if we need them to evacuate their neighborhood," said Public Safety Director Tom Casady.

That also includes residents who live in the North and South Bottoms and the Belmont area.  They said if you live in any of those spots, get in touch with someone who can help with transportation or a place to stay.

North Bottoms resident Larry Nunns said he has the means to evacuate, but he’s not considering it just yet.

"I think we’re going to be okay, but I may have to change my mind quickly," Nunns said.  "If the water was down at the end of the block, I would be worried."

Officials also want you to be smart about roads that have been flooded.

"Over half of all flood–related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water," said LSO Chief Deputy Todd Duncan.

If you see water running over a road, do not try to drive through it and call the non–emergency police line at 441–6000.

You can also keep track of any road closures by visiting: http://lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/projects/street-closures/map.htm#s

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At a press conference Tuesday, city and county officials said they want people to turn around, don’t drown.

They said more than half of all flood–related drownings happen when driving a vehicle into hazardous flood water.

Although they said they’re not expecting anything like the what Lincoln saw in May 2015, they want residents to be prepared just in case.

"We need people who are in low–lying areas along Salt Creek to be thinking now about what they will do if we need them to evacuate their neighborhood," said Public Safety Director Tom Casady.

It also includes residents who live in the north and south bottoms and the Belmont area, so get in touch with someone who can help with transportation or a place to stay.

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Press release:

Lincoln-Officials with the City of Lincoln and Lancaster County urge the public to stay informed and cautious as creek levels rise to near-flood conditions. Although there is no call for evacuation, residents in the North and South Bottoms neighborhoods are encouraged to be prepared to evacuate if Salt Creek levels continue to rise.

Officials are closely monitoring the creek levels south of Lincoln to determine the level of flood threat to Lincoln. At 3:05 p.m. today, Salt Creek near Roca was at 18.16 feet. Flood stage is 19 feet. As last night’s heavy rainfall begins swelling creeks downstream in Lincoln, streets and low-lying neighborhoods are at an increased risk of flooding.

The National Weather Service extended its Flash Flood Watch for Lancaster County through 1 p.m. Wednesday. A revised forecast now predicts another one to three inches of rain where ground is already saturated.

Residents are urged to be aware of changing weather and take safety precautions should the flooding situation worsen. 

• Avoid flood and high creek waters as they can carry dangerous bacteria and debris.
• Do not drive through barricades or where there is water over the road.
• Watch for fallen trees and limbs from the weekend storms that could cause damage

Real-time updates on the closure of City streets or County roads will continue to be posted at lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: closures) and through the Waze mobile app. The Lancaster County Engineer’s website at lancaster.ne.gov/engineer also has a complete listing of roads and bridges currently closed in Lancaster County. County residents with road issues are encouraged to contact the Lancaster County Engineer’s department at 402-441-7681 for more information or assistance.

Updates on weather conditions and flooding response plans will be posted on the Lincoln – Lancaster County Emergency Management Facebook page.  On Twitter, follow @LancasterCoEMA, @CityofLincoln and

@LancCoEng.