Flood cleanup totals starting to add up
Some things lost in the floods and wind storm earlier this summer, such as towering oaks, just can’t wear a price tag.
Scott County’s Buffalo Shores is nearly back to normal after being under the Mississippi River earlier this year. A handful of stumps are reminders of trees downed in the July 21 wind storm. Grass washed away by the flood is still thin in some places, but yellow tape blocking riverside campsites could be removed by next week.
“How do you replace a large oak?” said Roger Larson, Buffalo Shores and West Lake Park manager. “What is the value of a large oak?”
Scott County is still totaling the costs of flood fighting and cleanup to submit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for reimbursement. Scott County received a declaration from May 28 to Aug. 13. Those dates include street flooding in Davenport and a wind storm that downed about 100 trees at Scott County parks.
The early total is $46,730.55 for removal of flood-damaged debris from areas in Pleasant Valley and Long Grove. Conservation director Roger Kean said cleanup in the parks, particularly Buffalo Shores, is about $100,000. The cost to replace a boat ramp at Allen’s Grove Park has yet to be determined.
“We are just beginning to work with FEMA to get those expenses submitted,” he said.
Scott County’s infrastructure repair costs, as well as Davenport’s and Buffalo’s flood-fighting and repair costs, are still being compiled. Bettendorf has submitted claims to FEMA for $142,245.43 for sandbagging, barricading and emergency service costs. Debris removal and cleanup following the flood is expected to cost $100,000, city spokeswoman Lauran Haldeman said.
Most of the repairs to county parks have been done by conservation department employees, helping to save money and get areas reopened quickly, Kean said. Conservation employees spent two works clearing trees at Buffalo Shores and West Lake Park. About 100 trees came down in the wind storm.
Contractors have been hired to do road and parking lot repair.
“We couldn’t wait to have contractors fix Buffalo Shores,” Kean said. “We wanted to get it open as quickly as possible, plus we had dangerous branches we had to clear.”
Over several days last month, Scott County workers from the health, secondary roads and conservation departments hauled away 131.81 tons of flood debris along the Mississippi and Wapsipinicon rivers.
Along with debris, the county also disposed of 76.32 tons of sandbags, 71 tires and 50 appliances from the unincorporated areas.
County Administrator Ray Wierson is pleased with the combined cleanup efforts of the departments involved.
“For us at Scott County, it is all about teamwork,” he said. “For the county as a whole, the health department takes the lead because of the health issues involved.
“This year and in the past, all the cities and communities in Scott County have benefited from what has been learned from previous floods.”
Kurt Allemeier can be contacted at (563) 383-2360 or kallemeier@qctimes.com.