Missouri National Guard to assist flood fighting

Residents in the town of West Alton, Mo., were told Tuesday to evacuate after a levee reportedly failed along the Mississippi River during heavy rains across the state. In southeastern Illinois’ Shawneetown, residents were forced to flee before the OH wiped out the town, reaching a crest more than 32 feet above flood stage – still a record there.

Capt. Martin Malloy, Upper Mississippi River Captain of the Port, closed the portion of the river due to extremely high water levels and fast currents caused by a sudden increase in severe weather around the central United States.

At a time of the year when both rainfall and the river level typically are well below normal, there could be record crests in some places along the Mississippi.

The team includes senior officials from the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Missouri National Guard, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the State Emergency Management Agency.

“All of us remember the devastating impact of the Great Flood of 1993 and that’s why we have been working proactively with our local and federal partners to prepare and respond”, Gov. Nixon said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects the latest flood event to “possibly exceed flows experienced from May to June earlier this year” due to some areas receiving more rain than predicted.

“In St. Louis, Mayor Francis Slay has asked for volunteers to fill about 20,000 sandbags for a low-lying area near Interstate 55″.

The winter storm system was barreling east on Tuesday, promising a unsafe mix of snow, sleet and floods.

At 8 p.m. Monday the Congaree River level was at 14.8 feet. The Meramec River in the St. Louis area is almost 30 feet above flood stage in some spots, forcing scattered evacuations and the closure of several roads.

Jay Nixon reported at least 13 people are dead in connection with continuous flooding in Missouri and neighboring Kansas.The governor mentioned during a press conference Monday recovery efforts were underway for three people killed after their vehicles were swept away by floodwaters.

“The December deluge has also prompted the U.S. Coast Guard to close a 5-mile stretch of the MS to river traffic at St. Louis“. Major flooding was occurring along the Kankakee, Illinois, Sangamon and Vermilion rivers.