MIDWEST USA FLOODS

1
MIDWEST USA FLOODS

• 14-23 AUGUST 2007

2
MIDWEST USA FLOODS

• Two storm systems colliding along the Nations
  midsection caused heavy rainfall that triggered
  widespread flooding of historic proportions and
  devastating societal impacts.
• One system mainly affected the upper Midwest
  states and the other system, representing the
  remnants of Tropical Storm Erin which struck
  Texas on August 19, mainly affected Texas and
  Oklahoma.

3
TROPICAL STORM ERIN (UPPER LEFT) AND HURRICANE
DEAN (LOWER RIGHT) AUGUST 19, 2007
4
TROPICAL STORM ERIN BRINGS HEAVY RAIN TO TEXAS
AUGUST 19, 2007
5
MIDWEST USA FLOODS

• The colliding systems caused heavy rainfall with
  consequent flooding, erosion, and landslides in
  Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin,
  and Minnesota.
• Rivers reached historic levels that had not
  occurred for at least 100 years.

6
HOUSTON, TEXAS AUGUST 14, 2007
7
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AUGUST 16, 2007
8
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AUGUST 16, 2007
9
SOCIETAL IMPACTS OF THE 2007 MIDWEST USA FLOODS

• Many miles of closed and washed out roads, which
  impeded traffic and provision of emergency
  services.
• A need for creative search and rescue operations.
• Inundated, damaged, and destroyed homes and cars.
• Power outages.
• Derailed train.
• Business and government interruption

10
SOCIETAL IMPACTS OF THE 2007 MIDWEST USA FLOODS

• Extensive evacuations (including inmates).
• Release of hazardous materials.
• Heavy mortality of wildlife.
• Milk jugs, garbage bags, and soda cans floating
  in the murky water.
• Flood levels that had not occurred for at least
  100 years.

11
FINDLAY, OHIO AUGUST 23, 2007
12
FINDLAY, OHIO AUGUST 23, 2007
13
FINDLAY, OHIO AUGUST 23, 2007
14
FINDLAY, OHIO AUGUST 23, 2007
15
OTTAWA, OHIO AUGUST 23, 2007
16
BROWNSVILLE, MINNESOTA AUGUST 23, 2007
17
MINNESOTA CITY, MINNESOTA AUGUST 23, 2007
18
MINNESOTA CITY, MINNESOTA AUGUST 23, 2007
19
KINGFISHER, OKLAHOMA AUGUST 23, 2007
20
KINGFISHER, OKLAHOMA AUGUST 23, 2007