Flood victims needing assistance should call 2-1-1

Areas of Douglas County received between 8 and 10 inches of heavy rainfall within eight hours July 31-Aug. 1, which caused widespread flooding and potentially caused damage to more than 100 homes.

If this rain had fallen over a 24-hour period, it would have been close to the 100-year rainfall event used to create Douglas County FEMA floodplain maps. Because it happened over eight hours, historical data indicates that this particular storm is similar to a 500-year flood event.

Teams consisting of representatives from Douglas County Emergency Management, American Red Cross and the Great Plains United Methodist Conference conducted damage assessments Aug. 3. They made contact with 94 homeowners, and of those, 41 had varying levels of flood damage. Damage ranged from a few inches to a few feet of water in basements, and some residents had water on the main level of their homes. There also were residents who had to replace their vehicles.

The teams left informational flyers at homes where no one was available. If residents have flood damage and need assistance, they should call 2-1-1.

If residents need a roll-off dumpster, they can contact:

• SM Ball Waste Services, of Perry — 785-597-2200
• Honey Creek Disposal Service, of Lawrence —913-369-8999
• Hamm Waste Services, of Lawrence — 785-842-2221

Before residents begin any repairs, they should contact Douglas County Zoning and Codes at 785-832-5293 to identify what permit they need.

For information about flood cleanup, visit the Centers for Disease Control Prevention’s website.