City of Omaha Mayor’s Office

June 13, 2011 - Engineering Consultants for the City of Omaha caution individuals and businesses in low lying areas today that they can expect to see sewer backups and surface ponding increase with any significant thunderstorm. Although additional modeling is necessary to provide more detailed projections under a range of possible conditions, the expected impacts from the combination of rainfall and the rising river level could pose a challenge for city officials. The Department of Public Works in conjunction with several engineering firms from the Omaha area are working to mitigate flooding conditions around the commercial areas near 11th and Nicholas.

The City has proactively utilized pumps in vulnerable areas, and acquired additional pumping systems in order to increase its capacity to convey water to the river. "What is a concern now is that a significant rain will prevent us from maintaining our ability to pump water out of low lying areas as rapidly as it is coming into our storm water systems, said Marty Grate, Director of Water Quality Services. "The consultants have produced maps that estimate where water may pool if we were to receive 2.4" of rainfall over a 24 hour period. The actual extent of flooding and sewer backups may be larger or smaller depending the amount and intensity."

With its limited resources, the City has established the following priorities:

1. Public Safety
2. Protection of public infrastructure
3. Protection of private property

The City advises residents and businesses located near the projected inundation areas to prepare themselves as follows:

• Develop a flood communication and evacuation plan
• Take steps to remove possessions from basements and low areas
• Look for opportunities to protect structures from floodwaters

For more suggestions call 2-1-1 or go to www.Ready.gov .

June 7, 2011 - Assistant Fire Chief Dan Stolinski updated local media outlets on flood response activities within the Omaha Metro Area at a 10:30 a.m. press briefing. Between today and Friday night, the Army Corps of Engineers have informed Unified Command that the river is expected to rise approximately 2 feet. Additionally, the river depth is estimated to deepen 8 to 10 inches until it hits 33 feet around June 12th.

Assistant Chief Stolinski also spoke about the berm construction taking place at the Missouri River Wastewater Treatment Facility. The existing levee is currently being reinforced by a berm which will extend flood protection around this South Omaha wastewater facility. The berm - which will extend the length of approximately seven football fields - is expected to be completed by Wednesday, June 8th.

Unified Command is also currently monitoring three other things: access to Omaha’s Eppley Airport via Abbott Drive, the structural security of the city’s levee, and monitoring potential water table increases on the dry side of the levee. Monitoring of the levee’s condition and water table levels are not in response to specific concerns at this time. Rather, the examinations are due to Unified Command’s determination to be proactive, not reactive in their response to the rising Missouri River.

June 3, 2011 - Marty Grate, Environmental Services Manager for the Omaha Public Works Department reported today that the Monroe Street Pumping Station is being closed and its equipment is being removed. This will result in approximately 6 million gallons of raw sewage being dumped into the Missouri River each day. State regulatory agencies and down water communities have been notified of the impending discharge. The Monroe St. location is being decommissioned due to its close proximity to the river. The equipment is being removed to make the repair process - after the water has subsided - a much quicker and less expensive operation.

The city has approximately 17 pumping stations. The Public Works Department does not expect any other stations besides Monroe to be closed due to flooding. The Monroe Street Pumping Station primarily serves the South Omaha community.

Avoid wading, swimming, and other primary body contact with the waters of the Missouri River in the area near and several miles downstream from the Veterans Memorial Bridge in South Omaha.

Eric Plautz, the Assistant Director of the Douglas County Emergency Management Agency informed residents that it’s important for individuals living or owning property along the Missouri to be prepared, and plan to evacuate if necessary. The city has six 12″ diesel pumps on the way to assist with the clearance of any rainwater than may accumulate on the city’s side of the levee.

The Unified Command consisting of representatives from the Omaha Fire Department, Omaha Police Department, Omaha Public Works, Omaha Parks & Recreation, and the Omaha Airport Authority was formed this week as part of Omaha’s disaster declaration to respond to rising water levels on the Missouri River. The Omaha Fire Department, under the supervision of OFD Battalion Chief Shane Hunter, is the lead organization for the Unified Command. Assistant Fire Chief Dan Stolinski will be providing daily updates on the status of flooding on the Omaha side of the Missouri.

May 25, 2011 - Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle today announced that the city isn’t rushing into anything. "In 2009 the citizens of Omaha demanded, and nearly every candidate for Mayor and City Council campaigned on, three things: 1) fix the half billion dollar shortfall to the Police & Fire Pension Fund; 2) end spiking; and 3) raise the retirement age," said Mayor Suttle. "The Police contract passed in 2010 along with the proposed Fire contract currently before the public, the union, and the City Council, achieve those three things and we have two months before the contract is finalized."

"It’s important for the citizens of Omaha to understand that the City has carefully reviewed the role and limitations of the CIR in regard to the process of negotiating labor contracts - under both the old rules and the proposed new rules within LB 397. Under the old and the new rules the CIR can only resolve disputes relating to wages and conditions of employment. The CIR cannot address numerous issues that can only be changed through a formal negotiation process. The CIR also cannot force a union to raise the retirement age of its members, end spiking, work more years to get a higher pension, give up benefits and pay more cash into the pension system, or reduce the number of staff. These are issues that must be negotiated at the table. The proposed fire contract does all those things that the CIR cannot do, and I feel that is an added benefit to the taxpayers of Omaha."

"LB 397 has already played an important role in our negotiation process. Knowing what the legislation will accomplish has been helpful in leveraging and achieving a contract that protects the taxpayers’ interests while maintaining the City’s commitment to high quality public safety that Omahans expect and deserve."

"LB 397, the bill to reform CIR is much needed and monumental legislation. I want to thank the Legislature, particularly Senators Lathrop, Ashford, Utter, and Speaker Flood for their leadership in getting this legislation passed. This legislation achieves meaningful reform and will provide a number of benefits to the City of Omaha during any potential labor disputes that occur after October 1st, 2011."

"The rhetoric emerging yesterday and today from those who have been consistently opposed to every initiative from my administration, while not entirely surprising, is disappointing and misleading. The process to approve this contract will take a minimum of 2 months, and will give the public, the union, and the City Council ample time to review and analyze the details of this contract. I look forward to a healthy and honest discussion about the strengths of this contract. My administration is dedicated to ensuring that this process is as transparent as possible and that the public is provided with the information they need to be assured that this contract meets the demands they laid out in 2009."