Recent Disasters

The swollen Mississippi River, facing south, from atop the closed Broadway flood gate in downtown Cape Girardeau. (KIT DOYLE)

After returning to Allenville Friday, March 21, 2008, Trevor Fluegge, 8, explored the standing water behind his home. Allenville residents say that the flooding was worse than was seen in 1982, 1993, 1995, or 2002. (KIT DOYLE)

Gerald Sebastian saw his granddaughter, Kaylee Williams, 2, Friday, March 21, 2008, for the first time since she and the rest of the family was evacuated Wednesday from their Allenville home. Sebastian, who stayed in Allenville through the flooding, tore out the home's ruined carpets , left, earlier Friday. The Sebastians had about six inches in their home. (KIT DOYLE)

Bobby Parkhill backed up with some of the over 900 tons of salt available at the Cape Girardeau Public Works offices while refilling city trucks Thursday morning, February 21, 2008. The shed can hold over 2,000 tons of salt. (KIT DOYLE)

Floodwaters covered Helen Street in Chaffee Wednesday afternoon where two vehicles were stranded near the intersection with Highway 77. (FRED LYNCH)

Ameren UE workers took down limbs before they had a chance to fall on utility lines Tuesday afternoon in north Jackson on Highway 61. (KIT DOYLE)

Juanita Niswonger carried tree branches to the curb Saturday in Jackson City Park. (FRED LYNCH)

Workers installed panels in the flood gate on N. Main St. Thursday, March 20, 2008, in Cape Girardeau. The project took longer than normal because Ameren UE workers were training City of Cape Girardeau workers on how to install the gate. (KIT DOYLE)

Fedex driver Jay McMullin helps 78-year-old Odell Bunch into the delivery truck after Bunch's Ford Ranger was swept off of Hwy 34 by flood waters on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 west of Jackson. (AARON EISENHAUER)

Willie Tatum scanned the damage to his yard as a tree rested on his house last night on Carter St. in north Cape Girardeau. He and his family woke when the tree came through the wall into his daughter's closet Monday night. (KIT DOYLE)

Ice-laden tree limbs leaned down on already ice-heavy utility lines Tuesday afternoon along Farmington St. in Jackson. (KIT DOYLE)

A scene of devastation on Dallas St. Tueday in Jackson. (KIT DOYLE)

After working Wednesday, March 19, 2008, Jimmy Shipley Jr. returned to his home, in background, on Highway 146 east of Ware, Il., to check on his dogs and property. Shipley pointed out items of his that the flood waters had carried into neighboring fields. (KIT DOYLE)