Dakota Valley ClassIssues in a Modern World: Flooding

Response and Responsibility: Perspective on the Missouri River Flood

Flooding in Ancient Times Global Flood Event 3000 BC

A Major global paleoclimatic event appears to have affected sea-level changes, vegetation and much surface chemistry.

Similarities in Flood Legends Flood Warning Arc Animals and vegetation saved Over 500 legends worldwide Mostly Oral accounts Gilgamesh and Hebrew Bible most commonly known

Floods in Modern History

China, 1887The worst flood in "modern history" happened in China in 1887. The Yellow River overflowed, causing the death of about 900,000 people

Vietnam, 1971Red River flood flood leaves about 100,000 dead.

Bangladesh, 1991Flooding again took its toll on this nation. About  139,000 lost their lives.

Ohio “Super Flood”, 1937 Catalyst for Flood Control Act of 1937

Mississippi River, 199328 deaths, $20 billion in damages

Missouri River Basin

High to Low

Changing Face of the Missouri River

Corp of Engineers

Early History June 16, 1775 Continental Congress

hired engineer as part of the first organized army under General George Washington

1779 Congress created Corps of Engineers

1802 President Thomas Jefferson established the modern form of the Corps of Engineers

Corps of Engineers Mission

Planning, designing, building and operation of locks and dams

Flood Control, dredging for water navigation

Design and construction of military facilities

Environmental regulation and ecosystem restoration

Pick Sloan Flood Control Act of 1944

Authorized construction of thousands of dams and levees across the United States

Six Intents of Legislation Flood Control Hydropower Recreation Water Supply Navigation Fish and wildlife

Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program

Fort Peck Dam Garrison Dam and Lake Sakakawea Oahe Dam Big Bend Dam Fort Randall Dam Gavins Point Dam and

Lewis and Clark Lake

Missouri Basin Dam System

Master Manual

Government Flood Response

Municipal Government Initial levee building

County Government Emergency Management Protocol

State Government Incident Management Team (Rocky Mountain IMT)

Coordinating efforts (National Guard, Dept. of Transportation, Dept.

of Agriculture)

Federal Government FEMA Assistance

Timeline

May 26: First release of information May 28: Report on unprecedented

flooding June 3: Evacuation inevitable June 6: Voluntary Evacuation

Ordered June 12: Completion of Primary

Levee June 18: Completion of Secondary

Levee Sept 1: Start of Secondary Levee

Removal Sept 15: Completed Removal 2nd

Levee October 1: Proposed Return Date

Levee Built around Dakota Dunes

Technology Used

Community Involvement

Government Involvement

Utilizing New Media

EmailInternetSocial Media

TwitterFacebookFlickrYoutube

Facebook

Twitter

Flickr

YouTube

Changing Forms of Communication

Dissemination of Information Use of new media to isolate problem Easy information disbursement

Examination of Corps Procedures Freedom of Information Act▪ Review Emails, Watershed data, rainfall

models

Changes in Flood Control

Ancient times mainly reacted Pre-Modern built levees and chose

locations Modern

Industrial Age brought dam projects▪ Uses dams to create▪ Electricity▪ Recreation▪ Navigation

Cities created problem of excess runoff

Modern World Issues

Environment How does construction of dams affect

the environment and ecology of a region Globalization

How does the destruction caused by a flood in the Midwest United States affect the food prices in South America

Thank You

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