By Katie Knapp Schubert
Omaha, NE – Omaha officials are concerned that heavy rain could cause water to back up in to downtown.
At a briefing Monday afternoon, Omaha Public Works officials released projections for downtown flooding should the city receive 2.4 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. The maps project up to a foot of standing water in the Qwest Center and TD Ameritrade Park parking lots if such a rainfall happens. Heavy rainfall could result in standing water in areas north of the ballpark as well.
Public Works Director Bob Stubbe says they released the maps so businesses can prepare in case of flooding. "This essentially provides an opportunity for those businesses to kind of see, is there a potential that I might have some water, so if I have a basement let me get my stuff out of the basement, if I've got valuable possessions I want to get those out of there so I can protect property."
Stubbe says there's also a risk that sewers will back up due to Missouri River flooding. A news release from the city says Public Works and local engineering firms are working to alleviate flooding in the 11th and Nicholas Street area.
The Missouri River is three feet above flood stage at Omaha. Flood Warnings continue from Sioux City to Rulo.