On Sunday afternoon, Hall County Emergency Management Director Jon Rosenlund said the next 24 hours need to stay dry.  In terms of rainfall, and Grand Island residents using water.
After Saturday night's flooding, any more pressure on the sewage system could mean backup for everyone. 

"I'm asking you, don't shower," Rosenlund told sandbaggers Sunday afternoon. 

That might be tough after sandbagging all day, but Rosenlund also urges Grand Island folks against using dishwashers, tap water, sprinkler systems, or doing laundry.  Limit flushing toilets as well.

"That will allow these pumps to decrease down to their normal level and then we'll be okay."

Some folks blame the city's infrastructure for backup, but Mayor Margaret Hornady said any system would buckle with all this rain. 

"The sanitary system is lower than the storm sewer system; it's deeper into the ground," Hornady said. 

The constant rainwater puts pressure on the system, creating tiny cracks for water and sewage to mix and seep into basements.

"The system is basically sound, but with that pressure, water will find a way in," she said.

"It's a community problem," Rosenlund said.  "The only solution would be for homes and businesses to reduce water usage."

But other community involvement is just as important.  Fifteen to twenty members of the Church of Latter-day Saints in Grand Island started shoveling at 8 a.m. Sunday morning, and were still bagging sand well into the afternoon.

Charles Janecek, a member of the church, said, "This is why we're here, to be a service to other people."

Dozens of young children also filled trucks with sandbags. 

Public Works Director Steve Riehle, Hornady, and other city leaders were on site, trying to figure out a plan to stop the sewage problem. While city leaders did their part, the Grand Island community did theirs.

"Only when we function as government, neighbors, businesses, friends and family, are we ever
going to find the solution to these disasters," Rosenlund said.

If you're experiencing water problems, there's two different numbers to call for help, depending if you have sewage or surface flooding. 

Citizens who are experiencing sewer backups should report them by calling (308) 385-5432.  Citizens who are experiencing surface flooding should contact the Emergency Management Center at (308) 385-5370.

 

Citizens Asked to Conserve Water to Help Community

Grand Island, Nebr.-Three areas of Grand Island are experiencing sewer backup due to the recent flooding.  These areas include: 

1.   between Highway 281 and Webb Road from Capital Avenue to Old Highway 2

2.  west of Harrison Street to the bike trail/railroad spur that serves the power plant and

     south of Louise Street to Park Drive

3.  Highway 281 east to Harrison Stolley Park Road south to Stagecoach Road

City crews are taking measures to increase capacity in these three areas of town.  The community can assist sanitary sewer efforts by conserving water and not discharging individual basement dewatering systems into the sanitary sewer.  Citizens that live in neighborhoods that are not experiencing flooding can still help other neighborhoods and the community by not doing laundry, washing dishes, watering lawns and gardens, and by limiting showers and the flushing of toilets.