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Voluntary Evacuation Order Issued for Rulo

By Matthew Leaf

10/01/2014

(KTNC)-- As the Missouri River levels continue to rise rapidly after Tuesday night's heavy rain, Rulo residents who live along the Missouri River are being advised to head for higher ground.

Richardson County Emergency Management and the Village of Rulo have issued a voluntary evacuation order as of 10:00 p.m. Wedneday, and roads leading to flooded areas will be closed.

Flood warnings have been issued for the Missouri River south of Omaha. At Rulo, the river was at 13.6 feet Wednesday morning, but was forecast to rise nearly 10-feet to a crestat 23.1 feet late Thursday night or early Friday morning. That's two feet higher than the river crest in June, and more than 6-feet above flood stage.

A flood warning is also in effect for the Missouri River at Brownville, where the river is forecast to crest at 39.2 feet Thursday evening. Flood stage at Brownville is 33 feet. At 39.5 feet, the access road to Cooper Nuclear Plant begins flooding.

The river is expected to fall below flood stage Saturday evening, but that could change if more rain falls.

While the evacuation order is voluntary and the river is expected to rise – and fall – rapidly, emergency management officials say residents in the area should take the flood threat seriously.

Deputy Emergency Management Director John Moon says services, including electricity, could be disrupted by floodwaters, and emergency vehicles might not be able to reach flooded areas.

The American Red Cross has been notified of the situation and could help any resident that needs help evacuating or needs a place to stay. The voluntary evacuation will be lifted once the roads are reopened.

Several inches of rain fell to the north and west of Rulo Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, including nearly 9 inches at the Waste Water Plant in Lincoln.

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