93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
(AP) Officials at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers say flood control and protecting human life are their top priorities anytime flooding is imminent along the Missouri River.
The Corps’ John Remus says the agency that manages the dams along the Missouri River could not have prevented the flooding along the river this spring because of the large amount of water that flowed into the river downstream of the dams.
But critics of the agency say the other priorities for the river, such as protecting endangered species, seem to work against flood control.
(Earlier story)
The federal agency that manages dams along the Missouri River received stern criticism from several U.S. senators at the start of a hearing examining this year’s flooding.
Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst said during Wednesday’s hearing that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers needs to do a better job of preventing flooding.
Ernst says continuing the cycle of flooding and rebuilding over and over is unacceptable.
Democratic New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said the Corps is too slow and too bureaucratic, and that it doesn’t have enough money to complete needed preventative projects. Gillibrand also said Congress needs to get past partisan fighting, especially when it comes to disaster aid.
Gillibrand, who is running for president, took part in the hearing because she serves on the committee that oversees the Corps, and she was in Iowa touring flood damage.
The Wednesday hearing is being held in Glenwood, Iowa, after spring flooding along the Missouri River caused more than $3 billion in damage in the region.
