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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />To: Honorable Mayor Adams and City Council <br />From: Julie Feier, City Manager <br />Date: September 26, 2008 <br />Subject: Flash Flood Update <br /> <br />th <br />On September 14, 2008 at approximately 6:45am University City Missouri was struck <br />by Hurricane Ike resulting in rainfall of 4 plus inches in a very short time span which <br />quickly overtook the River Des Peres and all associated creek beds causing major <br />flooding throughout much of University City. <br />In a matter of minutes hundreds of 911 calls began flooding the dispatch center with <br />people needing to be rescued from imminent danger of rising water. The Fire <br />Department answered over 100 calls for service in a 14-hour period and saved several <br />lives that day by going into fast rushing water that at times was over the heads of <br />rescuers and pulling people to safety. Tragically, two lives were lost due to the fast <br />rushing waters. <br />Throughout the day City staff, who were either at work or called in to work, performed <br />above and beyond the normal call of duty by: <br />? <br /> Coordinating rescues; <br />? <br /> Closing streets and rerouting traffic around flood waters; <br />? <br /> setting up shelters for those displaced by the flood waters; <br />? <br /> removed large trees and debris for the safe passage of emergency vehicles; and <br />? <br /> Conducted emergency housing inspections to determine safe zones for <br />residents. <br />Once the floodwaters had receded and human life was out of immediate danger, the <br />City Manager, Fire and Police Chief’s and other department heads met and began a <br />plan of action to begin to bring the City back to a sense of normalcy. <br />Immediate shelter at Fire House 2 and transportation for victims was established <br />through Metro. As the day progressed, Red Cross directed our victim’s to a Red Cross <br />shelter in Florissant. When Florissant closed their shelter, we opened Centennial <br />Commons as a regional shelter. The shelter remained open for a week. <br />th <br />After the storm September 14, 2008 <br />? <br /> Fire Department locate deceased body of resident Mr. Willie Johnson in a rear <br />yard on Wilson Ave. <br />? <br /> City Manager coordinates with Council Member Ricci to update Council <br />? <br /> Police and Fire Tour most devastated areas to check for life safety issues. <br /> <br />