Information for Bremer County Residents
Scammers—Ask for identification before allowing anyone into your home. Legitimate workers should not be asking for money to turn-on your utilities. Contact the Waverly Police Department to report suspicious individuals.
Stop Debris Placement at Curb-Side—With the concern of more flooding, residents are asked to stop placing debris at curb-side locations. Contractors are working to pick-up water-damaged items currently at curb-side.
Evacuations—A mandatory evacuation may be issued for residents in areas forecasted to be affected. Emergency crews may not be available for emergency rescues for residents who do not leave with the mandatory evacuation. Updated information will be provided as it becomes available.
Bremer County Services—Community Based Services, Case Management, General Relief, Substance Abuse, and Veteran’s Affairs are currently located at the County Courthouse. Walk-ins are preferred or individuals may call the Auditor’s Office at (319) 352-0340 and the message will be communicated.
Sandbags—Additional sandbags and sand are available at the Public Services building 412 1st Avenue SE and at Wartburg College’s maintenance shed on 12th Street NW. Individual community drop-offs are not available at this time due to limited manpower.
Volunteers—Individuals interested in volunteering should call (319) 352-8701. Wartburg College’s Center for Community Engagement is coordinating matching volunteers with residents needing assistance. Volunteers will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at Wartburg’s Vogel Library.
Day Care Services—Waverly Area Churches are offering a day care for children of residents participating in the flood clean-up. The day care is located at Redeemer Lutheran Church Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendance for children ages 0 to 2 years will be limited. More information is available at www.redeemerwaverly.org.
Clean-up kits—Clean-up kits are available at the Waverly Fire Station. Clean-up information can be found at the Waverly Public Library, Waverly Health Center, Waverly Fire Department, Waverly Police Department, Miller True Value Hardware, HyVee and Wal-Mart.
Waverly City Hall – Offices are closed. For assistance, go to the Waverly Public Library. The Monday, June 16, 7 p.m. City Council Meeting will be held at Wartburg College’s Lyceum.
Hazardous materials—Hazardous household materials need to be taken to Bremer County Customer Convenience Center at 2049 200th Street in rural east Waverly.
Sewer—Sewer backups may continue to occur. The primary sewage lift station for Waverly is operating on two out of three pumps. Most of the lift stations are operational. Raw sewage is still being pumped directly into the river in an attempt to avoid additional backflow into residences and businesses.
Foundation Damage—Residents are cautioned that pumping water from basements while the ground water level is high could result in damage to the structure of the walls.
Information Services—Waverly Public Library and Wartburg College’s Vogel Library have free Internet service available. In addition, clean-up information can be found at the Waverly Public Library, Waverly Health Center, Waverly Fire Department, Waverly Police Department, Miller True Value Hardware, HyVee and Wal-Mart.
Contact Information:
• Bremer County Planning and Zoning – (319) 352-0332
• Crisis Counseling/Covenant Clinic Psychiatry – (319) 352-9606
• MidAmerican Energy – (888) 427-5632
• Red Cross Emergency Line – (866) 438-4636
• Visiting Nursing Association/Bremer County Public Health – (319) 235-6201
• Volunteer Assistance Needed – (319) 352-8701
• Volunteers – (319) 352-8701
• Water Shut-Off – (319) 352-6247
• Waverly Health Center – (319) 464-2371
• Waverly Light and Power – (319) 352-6251
• Waverly Police Department – (319) 352-5400
Full Release:
Utilizing information released by the National Weather Service at 2:35 a.m., Friday, June 13, 2008, the Cedar River at Waverly is forecast to crest at 15 feet on Saturday evening. This level would be comparable to the flood level of 1993. The river is expected to begin rising sometime Friday morning. Updated information will be provided as it becomes available.
Residents should stay out of flooded areas and comply with evacuation notices for their safety. Road hazards including holes and open manholes have been seen and likely exist under water covered roads.
Sight-seers need to stay out of the affected areas so residents and clean-up crews can assess the damage and begin clean-up. Sight-seers or bystanders interfering with the clean-up efforts may be reported to the Waverly Police Department at (319) 352-5400.
Volunteers—Individuals interested in volunteering should call (319) 352-8701. Wartburg College’s Center for Community Engagement is coordinating matching volunteers with residents needing assistance. Volunteers will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Vogel Library on Wartburg’s Campus.
Clean-up and Recovery—
A Governor’s Proclamation has been received for Bremer County. A Governor’s Proclamation allows for state resources to be used for this flood event. Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management officials have been contacted regarding a Presidential Declaration for impacted residents in Bremer County. A Presidential Disaster Declaration may allow for individual assistance. Consideration for a Presidential Declaration cannot be made until after a Preliminary Disaster Assessment has been completed. This assessment will begin as soon as possible after flood waters recede.
Restoring Electrical and Natural Gas Services—June 12, 2008 Agreement with Contractors and Board of Supervisors, City of Waverly:
• Customer calls licensed electrical or mechanical/plumbing contractor.
• Contractor does inspections and work necessary to get power and gas connected.
• Licensed Contractor calls Bremer County Building and Zoning with name of customer, address and notes whether everything is OK or needs further attention and whether power and gas can be restored.
• Building and Zoning records telephone call and advises the power or gas company that service can be restored.
• When the power or gas company installs the meter, home owner will call contractor to restart service. Contractor will advise Building and Zoning by phone that service has been restored.
• If further work is required Contractor will return. Contractor and Building and Zoning will jointly follow the standing building permit process.
Rural Residents—Residents in rural areas displaced by the flood should contact the Bremer County Auditor’s office at (319) 352-0340 to get help through the American Red Cross.
Sandbags, Debris, Appliances and Contaminated Personal Items—Officials want residents to suspend debris removal due to predicted flooding that may wash away debris. Debris removal of existing items will begin immediately in an attempt to clear the streets before the pending flood. Hazardous household materials need to be taken to Bremer County Customer Convenience Center at 2049 200th Street in rural east Waverly.
Spoiled food—Separate garbage dumpsters must be used for spoiled food. The dumpsters are located at the public services building at 412 1st Avenue, SE and the Fairgrounds at 5th Avenue near the 4-H building. Do not place food items at curb-side locations.
City Garbage Service—Normal residential and business garbage service will continue where possible.
Crisis Counseling—At this time, Covenant Clinic Psychiatry in Waverly is available for counseling. Call (319) 352-9606 to schedule an appointment.
Waverly City Hall—Offices are closed. For assistance, go to the Waverly Public Library. The Monday, June 16, 7 p.m. City Council Meeting will be held at the Lyceum at Wartburg College.
Tetanus Shots—
• Friday, June 13 from 2 – 4 p.m. – Plainfield Public Library, sponsored by Waverly Health Center; Free shots
• Monday, June 16 from 8 – 11 a.m. – Waverly Health Center; Individuals should park in the green lot and use the green entrance to receive a free shot.
• Tuesday, June 17 from 8 – 11 a.m. – Waverly Health Center; Individuals should park in the green lot and use the green entrance to receive a free shot.
• Tuesday, June 17, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Visiting Nursing Association/Bremer County Public Health; Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2001 West Bremer Avenue; shots are available for underinsured individuals.
• Other times; Visiting Nursing Association/Bremer County Public Health, 2530 University Avenue, Suite 3 in Waterloo, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (319) 235-6201. Shots are available for underinsured individuals.
Because flood conditions may increase the risk of receiving soft tissue injuries, more people may need tetanus boosters than under normal conditions. Those who have had at least three previous tetanus shots and have a clean, minor wound, a “booster” is needed every ten years. For all other wounds, a tetanus shot is needed after five years. Injured individuals can receive a booster shot up to 48 hours after the injury to receive protection. More information about tetanus is available on the Iowa Department of Public Health website, www.idph.state.ia.us.
Shelters—Shelters are available to all impacted individuals. The Red Cross is operating shelters at The Wartburg-Waverly Sports and Wellness Center on the Wartburg College Campus and at the West Gym at the University of Northern Iowa. Individuals needing assistance to evacuate may call (319) 352-4252. The Red Cross is not accepting any donations of goods at The W.
Individuals with medical needs may go to Waverly Health Center. They should access the hospital from 2nd Avenue SW, park in the orange lot and use the orange entrance. Accommodations are available in Outpatient Surgery.
Shelters for pets are available at the following locations:
• Avenue of the Saints Animal Hospital – (319) 352-3722
• Waverly Veterinary Clinic (cats only) – (319) 352-5732
• Rock River Retrievers – (319) 352-3200 or (319) 290-1366
Donations—Donations are not currently being accepted. Information will be provided as it becomes available.
Road Closings and Information—Drivers should exercise extreme caution in Bremer County due to ongoing rains washing out sections of roadways. Most Waverly roads are open. As the river begins to rise, the City will begin to restricting access and placing barricades later Friday afternoon. Two emergency access roads are open in Waverly. Emergency access for Murphy Addition is open at Horton Road and 5th Street NE. Emergency access for the Jahnke Addition is open at 10th Avenue and 4th Street SW. For state highway closings, log onto www.511ia.org.
Bridge Access:
• The 3rd Street SE Bridge (green bridge) is closed. The bridge will remain closed until it can be inspected by a structural engineer.
• Pedestrian/bike trail bridge across the Cedar River is closed.
• Bremer Avenue Bridge is open.
• Horton Road and bridge are open.
Utilities—
Water: City of Waverly water is safe to drink. Some homes may have broken water pipes. When residents are able to get back into homes and businesses, check for broken water pipes. If your pipes are broken, call Public Services (319) 352-6247 to have it shut off.
Sewer—Sewer backups may continue to occur. The primary sewage lift station for Waverly is operating on two out of three pumps. Most of the lift stations are operational. Raw sewage is still being pumped directly into the river in an attempt to avoid additional backflow into residences and businesses.
Electric—Residents who did not have any water in their structure can call Building and Zoning (319) 352-0332 to request power restoration. Houses and business can be turned on at each individual location. The entire neighborhood circuit does not need to be ready to go on-line at the same time.
Natural Gas—There are 800 homes without gas; many locations need to have meters replaced. Contractors are coming to town to fix meters. See above information on Restoring Electrical and Natural Gas Services.
Well testing for rural residents—Flooded, private water wells need to be tested and disinfected after the flood waters recede. If you suspect that your well may be contaminated, contact the health department at (319) 352-0332 for assistance. A limited number of free water kits are available.
Septic Systems—Anyone with a private septic system affected by the flood should have their system pumped. It also needs to be inspected by Building and Zoning before use.
The flood warning will remain in effect until waters fall below flood stage.