Midwest governors join federal agencies to discuss flood recovery

It’s been more than a month since the flood waters took over parts of the Midwest.

Now, the governors of Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and Iowa gathered at the Council Bluffs Police Department to discuss flood recovery for the second time. 

“We worked together as four states with the corp to kind of go over the different reports they’ve done in the past, examine some of those recommendations in the past really didn’t have the political road to get done,” Governor Pete Ricketts said. 

The governors sat down with the U.S Army Corp of Engineers and FEMA to discuss short, midterm and long term plans on flood recovery. 

“We’ve talked about this in three phases: short term, which is plugging the holes and the levees right now, medium term, what are some of the medium steps we can take together, what can we do as states with the corp, and then long term what do we need to change the way the river is being managed,” Ricketts said. 

So far, contracts have already been drawn up for the three major breeches. Two of the breeches are anticipated to be filled by the end of July, something Iowa’s governor didn’t think would happen for another year. 

“We still have a long recovery and road ahead, but again, I appreciate them sitting down with us, updating us and talking about ways we can be innovative and flexible in really addressing the recovery and the rebuilding process,” Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, said. 

There’s no specific outline for what the plans entail, but the states made sure they wanted to be involved. 

“That was crystal clear when we left the seats at that table in that room, that the states would have a seat at the table when it comes to the future plans,” Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said.