Although flooding is already taking place along the Missouri River at some towns north and east of Kansas City, more water is being released today into the Missouri River upstream from the Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, South Dakota.
Water releases have been increased to 50,000 cubic feet per second and will be increased to 60,000 cubic feet per second later today and Friday, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
In a news release, the Corps of Engineers stated that efforts are being made to minimize downstream impacts.
“The Corps is aware of flooding happening or forecast along the Missouri River and is working with local emergency managers to prepare for or respond to the impacts,” the Corps of Engineers stated in the news release.
The Kansas City District of the Corps of Engineers has declared a flood emergency exists within the Kansas City District, according to an announcement. The district activated its Emergency Operations Center to an Emergency Watch condition on Wednesday evening.
The Corps of Engineers may provide supplemental support to state and local entities in technical and direct assistance in response to flood emergencies, the Corps stated in a news release.
It stated that public safety was its top priority.
For more information, visit https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/1784874/corps-kansas-city-district-activates-emergency-operations-center-at-emergency-w/.
and https://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/MRRIC/News-Release-Display/Article/1785214/additional-gavins-point-releases-being-made/