Wappapello Lake spillway overflow

The Wappapello Lake emergency spillway in Wayne County, Mo., was overrun by floodwaters Monday, May 2, 2011, sending nearly 15,000 cubic feet per second of water rushing down the St. Francis River. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials say the discharge could reach nearly 24,000 cfs later Monday. (AP Photo/Daily American Republic, Paul Davis)

Wappapello Lake's emergency spillway, left, is overun by rising floodwaters Monday, May 2, 2011. The Wayne County, Mo., lake sits on the St. Francis River, and the overflow threatens at least 1,000 people downstream. (AP Photo/Daily American Republic, Paul Davis)

Wappapello Lake in Wayne County, Mo., overflows its emergency spillway Monday morning, May 2, 2011, threatening residents downstream on the St. Francis River. (AP Photo/Daily American Republic, Paul Davis)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel watch as Wappapello Lake in Wayne County, Mo., overflows its emergency spillway Monday morning, May 2, 2011, threatening residents downstream on the St. Francis River. (AP Photo/Daily American Republic, Paul Davis)

Wappapello Lake in Wayne County, Mo., overflows its emergency spillway into the St. Francis River Tuesday, May 3, 2011. Days of heavy rain raised the lake's level to 400.03 feet as of now, breaking a 1945 record of 399.09 feet. (AP Photo/Daily American republic, Paul Davis)

Highway T in Wayne County, Mo., is closed Tuesday, May 3, 2011 as raging floodwaters from Wappapello Lake, which overtopped an emergency spillway, pour through the area. The waters took out a nearly 400-foot long section of the roadway. (AP Photo/Daily American Republic, Paul Davis)

Wappapello Lake in Wayne County, Mo., flows over its emergency spillway and into the already swollen St. Francis River Tuesday, May 3, 2011. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials say the spillway is operating as designed. (AP Photo/Daily American Republic, Paul Davis)

Wappapello Lake in Wayne County, Mo., overflows its emergency spillway near the Redman Creek Recreation Area Tuesday, May 3, 2011. A nearly 400-foot-long section of Highway T, just out of the frame to the right, was destroyed. Heavy rains brought record flooding to the lake, which sits on the St. Francis River. (AP Photo/Daily American Republic, Paul Davis)

Highway T in Wayne County, Mo., is closed Tuesday, May 3, 2011 as raging floodwaters from Wappapello Lake, which overtopped an emergency spillway, pour through the area and into the St. Francis River. The waters took out a nearly 400-foot long section of the roadway. (AP Photo/Daily American Republic, Paul Davis)

Photo courtesy of Jim Vaughn/Dexter The above photo, looking northeasterly, depicts the raging floodwater in the scour channel below Lake Wappapello's emergency spillway at peak flood flow. Note the utility cables visible in upper center of photo.

Photo courtesy of Jim Vaughn Above is a view of the Wappapello emergency spillway and plunge pool, looking north/northeast. The toe of Wappapello dam is visible and floodwater in the central background of the photo, beyond the spillway.