(ORANGE CITY)–A preliminary assessment of damage in Sioux County will be made by Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) staff.
That’s one response to severe storm damage from high winds in Maurice July 22nd and flooding from the Big Sioux and Floyd Rivers in Sioux County.
Sioux County Emergency Management Coordinator Nate Huizenga was part of a conference call with disaster officials today.
The county is already part of a state disaster declaration for individual assistance. Whether a Presidential Disaster request would be made is the reason for the assessment.
Huizenga expects to hear later this week when the assessments for preliminary damage will be made.
City of Maurice officials are still gathering their estimates of damage to city facilities.
Three die near Rembrandt
(STORM LAKE)–A fiery two-vehicle collision claimed three lives Sunday in Buena Vista County.
According to Sheriff Gary Launderville, the accident near Rembrandt, at the intersection of Highway Three and county road M-44, was reported about 3:30 Sunday afternoon.
One vehicle was fully engulfed in flames when emergency crews arrived. The fire was put out by the Rembrandt Fire Department. Two people in the vehicle died. One person in the other vehicle also died.
The bodies of the three people were taken to the State Medical Examiner’s office in Ankeny. The names of those involved have not been released. Other information is being withheld while the accident is investigated.
Storm damage hampers regional water system
TEA, S.D. (AP) Storm damage has created a setback for construction on the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System.
Two 7-million-gallon reservoirs being built near Tea were heavily damaged in a storm late Friday.
Executive director Troy Larson says the project was supposed to be completed by November. He says cleanup and reconstruction will take at least a couple of months. He says the contractor has insurance.
The $550 million water system will provide treated Missouri River water to about 300,000 people in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Lake Delhi could be restored
DELHI, Iowa (AP) Gov. Chet Culver vows to restore Lake Delhi after it disappeared when its dam failed, sending floodwaters downstream on the Maquoketa River.
The dam failed Saturday, draining the nine-mile-long lake in less than a day. Areas below the dam, including Hopkinton and Monticello, were evacuated.
Residents fear millions of dollars in property values also washed away, because about 900 vacation homes and cottages lost their lakefront status.
The dam is owned by the local homeowners association.
Culver, who toured the area on Sunday, says it’s in Iowa’s best interest to save the lake, calling it a “real landmark.”
Culver, who returns to northeast Iowa on Monday, says restoration could include hydroelectric turbines, which could generate power for Delaware County.
Waterloo murder trial delayed
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) A Waterloo man accused in a deadly stabbing during a fight in a city park will stand trial later this year.
Wyatt Johnson is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Kevin Garcia on April 28, 2009.
Johnson’s trial, which had been set for Aug. 4 in Black Hawk County District Court, has been postponed until Sept. 21.
Police alleged Johnson stabbed Garcia to death during a gang fight
Two 16-year-olds also were stabbed, and Johnson faces attempted murder charges in connection with their injuries.
Johnson was stopped in Wyoming shortly after the fight and was brought back to Iowa. He pleaded not guilty and waived his right to a speedy trial. He remains in the Black Hawk County jail.
Officials ID 4 victims of crash near Iowa City
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Authorities say two people from Iowa and two others from Wisconsin were killed in a one-car accident near Iowa City.
Iowa State Trooper Mike Hicks says a landowner in the area discovered the victims in a ditch around 8 a.m. Sunday.
Hicks says the driver of the car veered off a curve and rolled in the ditch.
The patrol identifies the victims as Heather Althiser, of Onalaska, Wis.; Joseph Vinopal, of La Crosse, Wis.; and Rebecca Frea and Jason Onsgard, both of Iowa City.
Investigators haven’t determined who was driving.
Hicks says three victims weren’t wearing seat belts and were thrown from the vehicle. A fourth was wearing a seat belt and died in the car. All four died at the scene.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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