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Weather Service, IMEA Expect Little Flooding on the Mississippi This Spring

National Weather Service

The National Weather Service says there is not a great risk of flooding along the Mississippi River during the next 90 days. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency considers that a window of opportunity.

The National Weather Service projection is welcome news to Paul Rasch. He is chief of operations for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Rasch says his agency will use this low-risk period to meet with local elected leaders and first responders up and down the river… to improve communication and make sure people are on the same page before a flood.

(RASCH :09 “A beautiful day like this sitting here in a nice dry conference room is the place to do this, not standing out in the rain with the water coming up around us.”)

Rasch spoke to about 25 people in Quincy during one of those meetings.

Similar meetings are planned during the next two weeks in locations such as the Quad Cities and Carbondale.

Jason is the Southeast Iowa News Correspondent. He established Tri States Public Radio's news bureau in Keokuk in September 2003. The bureau has moved from his apartment to the Hotel Iowa before landing in its current location at the Daily Gate City newspaper at 1016 Main. Jason provides short- and long-form news coverage from southeast Iowa, northeast Missouri, and portions of west-central Illinois. Jason covers multiple governmental boards including the Keokuk City Council, the Lee County Board of Supervisors and the Burlington School Board. Jason was born in Burlington, IA and grew up in neighboring Henderson County before graduating from Monmouth High School. He graduated from WIU in 2002 with Bachelor’s Degrees in Communications and History. While in Macomb, he was a member of the WIU Track & Field team, serving as Captain during his senior year. Jason received his Master’s Degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois-Springfield in 2003. He and his wife Jamie have called Quincy home since 2007. They have two dogs (Howie and Sadie), one nephew, one neice and several god-children. During Jason’s free time, he enjoys watching sports, spending time with friends, playing fantasy football and traveling to the Lake of the Ozarks with his wife.