Crete Flood Emergency Response - Updates
Notice to owners/occupants of properties in the areas of Crete affected by flood waters: No work can be done on properties until they have been assessed by the City Building Inspector. Valid permits must be obtained for any work begin.
"The City of Crete requires building permits if you plan to construct, erect, enlarge, alter, repair, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building or dwelling. Some examples would be replacing a water heater, furnace or air conditioner." Find more information here.
Highway 33/103 and the highway bridge on the west side of Crete remains open.
Information from Wednesday, March 20:
Blue River at Crete Update: As of 7:45 a.m. today (March 20) the river level was 22.42 feet and now projected to be at or below flood stage (21 feet) late today. (Information courtesy of the National Weather Service - Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service)
Information from Tuesday, March 19:
Update 2:30 p.m.:
A reminder as the river level goes down, please continue to adhere to any barricades which may still be in place in Crete and use caution on dirt/gravel roads.
Tuxedo Park is still closed pending work by city crews to reopen the area.
Along with Tuxedo, the affected areas in Crete are portions of the southwest and northwest residential neighborhoods. The majority of town, including the downtown district, Crete schools and the Doane campus were unaffected. Highway 33/103 through Crete has remained open throughout this entire flooding event.
Information from Monday, March 18:
Update 9:52 a.m.:
South Main is now open to traffic.
Information from Sunday, March 17:
Update 10:12 a.m.:
Smaller sections of streets and intersections in southwest and northwest Crete are now clear and open.
Still barricaded are Tuxedo Road and park entrances, South Main from 3rd Street south, 10th and Thornwood Ave, and the road connecting West 13th Street to West 16th Street, which runs on the south side of the Maples property.
Information from Saturday, March 16:
Update 7:58 p.m.:
North Main is now open; 18th to 21st streets was previously closed.
Update 9:45 a.m.:
Notice to property owners/occupants in the areas of Crete affected by flood waters: No work can be done on properties until they have been assessed by the City Building Inspector. More information will be made available.
Update 8:42 a.m.:
Blue River at Crete Update: As of 6:45 a.m. today (March 16) the river level was 29.67 feet, showing a decrease from a charted high of 30.68 feet late Friday night. Several Crete streets/intersections are no longer flooded. These include: portions of 22nd and 24th Streets, areas of Pine and Oak from 16th - 18th, 20th and Oak, 21st and Norman, Pine from 7th - 9th, 8th and Oak. Barricades are still in place where necessary and those areas should be avoided.
Still barricaded: Tuxedo Road (park entrances closed), West 13th Street from Tuxedo Road to the bridge near the cemetery entrance, 10th Street from Vine -Redwood, South Main from 3rd Street intersection south, Main Ave from 18th-21st, 22nd Street at Norman.
Information from Friday, March 15:
Update 1:42 p.m.:
Additional street/road barricades have been placed at the following locations: 22nd Street, from Oak to Main Ave, 22nd Street from Kingwood to Juniper, 20th Street, Oak to Norman Ave, 21st and Norman 17th and Pine to Oak, 8th and Oak, Pine, from 7th to 9th Streets.
Update 12:58 a.m.:
The City of Crete is not having mandatory evacuations in areas of town affected by flooding. City emergency response teams are notifying affected residents of the current situation and conditions.
Update 11:00 a.m.:
Weather Service projections indicate the Blue River could rise another 12-18 inches before it crests. As of 9:45 a.m. the level was at 30.19 feet. The City has teams making contact with residents in affected areas. More information about conditions in Crete will soon be available.
Update 7:45 a.m.:
Mayor Roger Foster and the City Council met in an emergency session late Thursday night (March 14) and approved a Flood Emergency and Disaster Declaration for the City of Crete.
More information will continue to be made available throughout the day.
Areas of the north section of Crete have flooding and current closed streets/roads reported by the Crete Police Department are: South Main, Tuxedo Road., Main from 18th-21st, West 13th from Tuxedo Road to the bridge, 10th from Vine-Redwood, 24th from Linden-Kingwood.
A report from 6:45 a.m. today (Friday, March 15) shows the flood stage of the Blue River at 29.97 feet. Flood stage is 21 feet and the record for the area is 29.9 feet. The river is forecasted to continue rising today.