Multifaceted Response to the Flooding - by Mayor Bart Peterson

.....
click here to return to September index

The opinions expressed in these articles and features are those of their author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of McANA or the opinion of its Directors or Officers.

Multifaceted Response to the Flooding
by Mayor Bart Peterson

On Labor Day weekend, Indianapolis was deluged with unprecedented rainfall which caused major flooding in neighborhoods across our city. This month, I’d like to share with you the city’s efforts to address the record-breaking rains and floods, as well as our activities to help those affected clean up and recover from the devastation.

As heavy rains fell, city employees were on the job, putting our emergency response plans into action. The Department of Public Works (DPW) responded immediately, with the safety of our fellow citizens as the top priority. They led the labor-intensive process of assembling and distributing sandbags, and responded to hundreds of reports of high water in neighborhoods, at intersections, and on major thoroughfares. Department officials, operating with few breaks, closely monitored water levels along the White River, as well as the integrity of our city’s dams, channels, levees, and our sewer system.

At the same time, a host of other city departments, as well as the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, township officials, and private businesses were integral in keeping our city moving. The Indianapolis Police and Fire Departments responded to our public safety needs. Township fire departments worked tirelessly to protect affected neighborhoods. Indianapolis Power & Light restored electric service. The Mayor’s Action Center opened on Labor Day and extended its hours. IndyGo freed up buses to transport sandbags and emergency volunteers. The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis opened its doors to assist flood victims. Countless other service organizations, such as the Salvation Army, provided labor and resources.

I spent most of Labor Day and Tuesday, September 2 on the ground meeting with affected residents, working with city departments, and assessing the flood damage. In order to pave the way for state and federal agencies to provide assistance, I issued a proclamation of “local disaster emergency.” Governor O’Bannon also declared a state of disaster emergency, which I hope will encourage the federal government to provide financial assistance to help our neighbors affected by these floods. In addition to this declaration, the Governor also dispatched Indiana National Guard members and Indiana Department of Transportation employees, who joined DPW workers and volunteers in filling approximately 22,000 sandbags.

The next few weeks, barring additional severe rainfall, we will see our neighbors cleaning up from the Labor Day weekend rain and floods. Department of Metropolitan Development inspectors are taking the lead on damage assessment for residential property to determine whether damage is major, minor, or destroyed. DPW is spearheading infrastructure damage assessment, including streets, sewers, bridges, dams and levees, as well as planning for the flood debris removal and added solid waste needs. Neighbors across this city are taking stock of the damage and helping one another rebuild. And as soon as we learn if the federal government will provide financial assistance, we will get the word out as quickly and effectively as possible. Please do not hesitate to call your township administrator or the Mayor’s Action Center if you or your neighbors have any flood-related questions or concerns.

Natural disasters – such as the Labor Day weekend rains and floods, the July storms and floods, the record snowfall of winter 2003, and the tornadoes of nearly a year ago – test a city’s mettle. Yet, time after time, Indianapolis has weathered these disasters by planning, quick response, and cooperation. It is our response to the disaster that defines our recovery, keeping our neighbors safe and our spirits intact.