Information from NPPD on flood conditions along the South Platte River

• ·         NPPD has closed its Customer Service Center and operations in Ogallala. The customer service center is moving to the Ogallala city offices and will re-open at 7:30 a.m. and operate until 4:30 p.m. Monday throughFriday. An after hours payment box has also been established at the city offices. NPPD’s office and facilities are in the flood plain and are being sandbagged to prevent water from getting into the building.
• ·         Critical equipment at the facility has been moved out.
• ·         NPPD is urging safety around any downed power lines. They are considered to be live lines and are problematic in water. Seehttp://www.nppd.com/flooding/ for information on electrical safety in flooded areas.
• ·         NPPD is also requesting the public stay out of any District work and barricaded areas where work is being conducted as the heavy machinery and truck traffic creates a hazardous environment for both the public and its employees.
• ·         NPPD will be allowing some water through its canal system, utilizing the Korty Diversion Dam. NPPD will be moving less than 800 cubic feet per second of water through the canal system, down to Sutherland Reservoir and Lake Maloney and through the North Platte hydro. The canal system was originally planned to be drained to do maintenance work. Higher amounts of water could damage the walls of the canal.
• ·         NPPD is cautioning individuals who are at Sutherland Reservoir and Lake Maloney to avoid skin contact with the water over the next week. Water coming downstream may be carrying animal carcasses, raw sewage and other harmful material. Nebraska DEQ will be testing the water in both facilities.