Branstad meets with Linn County about flood efforts

CEDAR RAPIDS — Gov. Terry Branstad, along with Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley and other state officials, met Saturday with the Linn County Board of Supervisors for a briefing on local flood efforts and offer words of encouragement.

'We stand here ready and willing to do whatever we can to help in this effort,' Branstad said.

The supervisors on Saturday unanimously declared a state of emergency for the county, which allows the board access to emergency funds, opens up mutual aid possibilities and the potential for Federal Emergency Management Agency funds. The amount would depend on actual damage costs.

The state of emergency will be for yesterday through next Thursday, Sept. 29.

Steve Estenson, the county's incident commander, expressed his confidence in the county's efforts, considering the lessons learned in 2008.

'In 2008, if you would have said 24.5 (feet of water), we wouldn't have really known what that meant,' he said. 'We feel that with the resources available now, we're very much prepared and we have a great respect for when the water gets here, there's not much you can do but wait it out until the water goes away.'

l Comments: (319) 339-3175; mitchell.schmidt@thegazette.com