Missouri National Guard activated in response to flooding

The river on Tuesday spilled over the top of the levee at West Alton, Missouri, about 20 miles north of St. Louis.

The Mississippi was forecast to crest at near-record levels on Thursday after deadly storms and tornadoes swept through the region, raising water levels and causing flash flooding. “We will be closely monitoring the water levels”, said Dr. Gene Rench, Hydrologist for the National Weather Service.

Jay Nixon has called in the National Guard to assist with flood-fighting efforts.

Army Corps of Engineers officials said Tuesday that the threatened areas include Perry and Ste.

Warm and wet weather over the last several weeks followed by storms that brought a deluge of rain in recent days have produced a severe threat of flooding along the Mississippi River, where water could reach record high levels soon in some places.

On Saturday, the MS is expected to crest at Thebes, Illinois, just south of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at 47.5 feet (14.5 meters) – almost two feet above the record, officials said.

Water has come over the levee protecting the St. Louis-area town of West Alton, Missouri.

South-west of St Louis, a section of Interstate 44 was closed by flooding near the town of Rolla while part of Interstate 70 was also closed in the neighbouring state of IL.

Three new flood-related deaths were discovered on Tuesday, the governor told a news conference, raising the death toll in the state since the storms began over the weekend to 13.

Red Cross shelters were opened to house residents forced from their homes by the flooding, according to Fox 2 News. Hundreds of smaller roads and highways were also closed across the two states, and flood warnings were in effect. A lot of them drowned after driving along submerged roads.

The flooding caused partially treated sewage to spill from the Fenton Wastewater Treatment Plant that has been shut down.