Harrisburg gets ready for flooding, if it comes

HARRISBURG - Heavy rainfall Tuesday night and Wednesday, with more rain in the forecast, prompted Harrisburg officials to start flood mitigation procedures.

Water and Sewer Superintendent Kelly Hefner toured the city's overflow reservoirs and examined the two pump houses along the city's flood control levies, taking note of water levels and water discharge.

"Right now, the water outside the levy is moving quickly, which is what we want to see," Hefner said. "When it starts to pool, that's when we might have problems."

Harrisburg has been prone to flooding since the area first was settled, though it has gradually improved over the years. Mayor John McPeek, Hefner, City Engineer Jim Brown and others have worked with the Army Corps of Engineers, residents and business owners to improve flood control.

In recent years, flood control measures within the city have improved times when the city has been soaked with excess rain. Despite those efforts, though, sometimes Mother Nature dumps more rain than the city's system can handle effectively. In 2017, heavy rains caused portions of the city to flood, causing damage to some homes and businesses.

Hefner said excessive litter does not help when flood control pumps are turned on.

"There is a lot of trash that gets caught up in the water, and it accumulates. It makes it hard on the equipment and will clog screens that water is trying to pass through," Hefner said.

Prior to rain beginning Tuesday, though, the city was able to clean the water systems for the pumphouses so flow restrictions caused by trash in anticipated excess water would be minimized.

"Everything is clean and ready," McPeek said.