Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />To: Honorable Mayor Adams and Council <br /> <br />From: Julie Feier, City Manager <br /> <br />Date: September 18, 2008 <br /> <br />Subject: Weekly Update <br /> <br /> <br />Hurricane Ike <br />On Sunday, April 14, 2008 at approximately 6 AM hit the St. Louis, <br />Area. The River Des Peres is a channelized natural stream with many tributaries <br />running through University City. The river enters a pipe at Dartmouth and <br />Kingsland, which flows beneath the City of St. Louis. Currently, because of our <br />combined sewer system, the River Des Peres acts as storm water and sewer <br />drainage. On Sunday, 4.42 inches of rain fell in a very short period of time, <br />causing flash flooding responsible for two fatalities, damage to hundreds of <br />homes, and damage to city infrastructure and public facilities. <br /> <br />Thus far, the City condemned 275 homes; thirty have yet to be inspected, of the <br />remaining homes, all but 10 single-family homes and 27 apartments have been <br />cleared for re-entry. Assessments are underway to determine the full extent of <br />the damage to public infrastructure and City-owned facilities. Public school <br />buildings were damaged and are being assessed. The City and Red Cross are <br />providing shelter and other emergency aide to flood victims. FEMA will arrive <br />Friday morning for inspection. <br /> <br />Mayor Adams declared a State of Emergency on September 14, 2008. The <br />declaration will be confirmed by City Council on September 22, 2008. We are <br />requesting all aid available from the State and Federal Management Agencies on <br />behalf of the families hit hardest by the floods. <br /> <br />It is my hope that we can work together to stop future disasters of this magnitude <br />by collaborating to execute long-term solutions to eliminate destruction in the flood <br />plain. <br /> <br />This Friday, September 19, from 7 AM to 1 PM at Centennial Commons, 7210 Olive <br />Blvd (the location of the still existing Red Cross Shelter), there will be an aide station set <br />up to provide special assistance to flood victims. The County Department of Public <br />Health will provide tetanus shots to individuals seven years and older on a first come <br />first serve basis. The Community Action Agency will be there to provide vouchers for <br />food, clothes and transportation. There is a plan to have some legal aide assistance <br />there as well. <br /> <br />