(Video) City Of GI Holds Press Conference Addressing Flooding
(Grand Island, NE) - The City of Grand Island held a press conference on Thursday, June 26th to address the recent flooding throughout the city that occurred from the rains that started on the afternoon of June 25th. Areas saw anywhere from six to eight inches of rainfall.
Speakers at the press conference on Thursday included
Grand Island Mayor Roger Steele
Grand Island/Hall County Emergency Manager Jon Rosenlund
Grand Island Fire Chief Cory Schmidt
Grand Island Police Chief Kevin Denney
Grand Island Breaks Multiple Rainfall Records Following Historic Storm
Grand Island, Neb. — The City of Grand Island experienced an historic weather event on June 25, with rainfall totals breaking multiple long-standing records.
Preliminary data indicates that Grand Island received 6.41 inches of rain on Tuesday, June 25. The storm set a new daily rainfall record for June 25, shattering the previous record of 1.55 inches in 1990.
This same total also establishes a new all-time daily rainfall record for the entire month of June. The previous record for any day in June was 4.18 inches, which fell on June 15, 1990. More significantly, this ranks as the second-highest single-day rainfall total ever recorded in Grand Island. The only day with more precipitation was May 11, 2005, when approximately 6.50 inches were recorded.
Including rainfall measured on June 26, Grand Island has recorded 7.13 inches over the two-day period. This marks the second-highest two-day rainfall total in city history, behind only May 11–12, 2005, when 7.21 inches were recorded.
These extraordinary amounts have led to widespread flash flooding across the community, with city crews continuing their work to mitigate damage and protect residents. Despite the intensity of the storm, there have been no reported deaths or injuries.
Grand Island Police Department (GIPD) responded to more than 60 calls overnight for motorist assists, citizen assistance and traffic hazards. Two households requested evacuation help through 911, and one residential basement collapse was reported. Additionally, basement apartments along Sutherland Road were evacuated due to flooding.
Other reported impacts include:
* Several instances of sewer backups throughout the city.
* Dozens of stranded vehicles, with many drivers and passengers rescued by GIPD's Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV).
Many streets remain impassable due to standing water, including major corridors such as Diers Avenue, Webb Road, Capital Avenue, State Street, the Eddy Street underpass and others.
City officials urge the public to use extreme caution when traveling. As conditions continue to change and residents begin to assess damage or resume daily activities, please remember: never attempt to drive through standing water. It’s also important to know floodwater can contain sewage, harmful bacteria, and chemicals that can cause illness. Supervise children closely, especially in flooded areas, and disinfect any toys or items that have come into contact with floodwater.