May 15, 2007 Estimated Rainfall Radar Return
Links:
FEMA Web Page about this Disaster
Background
The transition from winter to spring was more violent than normal in 2007. The Greensburg, Kansas, tornado made national news and was the first EF5 tornado in the newly adopted Enhanced Fujita Scale for tornado intensity. East of the border, intense and persistent rains breached an agricultural levee and flooded the entire town of Missouri Valley, Iowa. In Nebraska, intense rain was widespread across the state with Gage County and Beatrice having the most severe flooding.
Additional Information
Tornadoes on May 5th confirmed for counties of: Custer, Blaine, Brown, Knox, Keya Paha, and Perkins. Tennis ball sized hail reported in Brown County.
Knox County tornado caused major damage to Weigand Marina on Lewis and Clark Lake. 65% of boats and docks were impacted.
Springview (Keya Paha County): Tornado destroys one home and causes minor injuries to two people.
Rainfall over previous 4 days for May 8: Omaha Eppley (7.46"), Falls City (7.15"), Bellevue (6.91"), Syracuse (5.03"), Lincoln (4.90")
Omaha - Intense rains cause sewer overflows in eastern part of City - especially 17th & Ames, 83rd & Center, 65th & Ames
Rulo - Highway 159 bridge over the Missouri River closed on Missouri side. Old Highway 7 road closed or eight miles.
Beatrice - Big Blue River crests at 4:00 pm at 23 feet, 9 inches. Chautauqua Park flooded to at least waist deep. May 8: Some roads and businesses closed, Hwy 136 (West Court St.) bridge closed, reports of basement flooding.
Gage County - Homestead National Monument and Gage County Museum sandbagged, streets closed in Blue Springs and Wymore, grain elevator in Holmesville sandbagged.
Firth - Three blocks of Nemaha Street experienced extensive flooding as drainage ditches filled past capacity. In some spots, water got into homes, and a basement wall collapsed from the water pressure.
Hooper - Fitness center's roof blown off.
Jefferson County - Downed power lines and bridge washouts.
Steele City - power lines down, roof damage to a restaurant and post office.
Saline County - Turkey Creek was more than 5 feet over flood stage, 20 county roads closed. $40,000-50,000 damage to county roads, more agricultural building damage from high winds. Total damage could be $100,000.
Lincoln - Isolated flooding around the City. NW 7th & Highlands Blvd cars could not pass through, 6th Street & Old Cheney, basement flooding reports, boy rescued from Dead Man's Run on 48th Street bridge. Houses flooded at 48th & St. Paul.
Emerald - basements flooded up to 18 inches, O Street closed.
Nebraska City - May 19: Nemaha NRD reopened Steamboat Trace Trail from Nebraska City to Peru. The south part from Peru to Brownville is closed indefinitely due to storm and flood impacts.
President Bush declared this a federal disaster area for 18 counties on June 6, 2007. Thomas County was the 19th county declared, and was added to the list on July 9. The federal declaration is for Public Assistance and for Mitigation.
Counties declared:
Blaine, Brown, Cass, Custer, Gage, Garfield, Jefferson, Johnson, Keya Paha, Knox, Loup, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, Saunders, Wheeler, and Thomas
May 15, 2007 Estimated Rainfall Radar Return