'95 FLOOD THREATENS RECORD IN ILLINOIS

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- They know the 1995 flood is threatening to eclipse the 1993 deluge in terms of lost property and crops.

But residents of Southern Illinois towns like Thebes and Olive Branch merely shrug their shoulders and say they will deal with it one sandbag at a time.

"I've lived along the river all my life," Tom Hale, 64, of Thebes said at the Horseshoe Lake Community Center Friday. The center was also temporary headquarters for the Red Cross.

"I can remember floods as far back as 1937 and this one has the potential to be the worst yet," he said. "It's definitely the quickest flood I've ever seen sneak up on us."

As he said this, Hale showed no signs of frayed nerves or a depression. "You just help out those that you can and go on living," he said. Hale, who lives high enough to escape water from the Ohio River, spent the better part of Thursday bringing sandbags to neighbors.

"The Ohio is higher than I can ever remember and that's not good," Hale said. "But so far all the levees are holding."

The Ohio River was at 55.3 feet in Cairo on Friday and is scheduled to rise to 55.4 today. With the National Weather Service's forecast of between 1 and 5 inches of rain in the northern portion of Missouri and Southern Illinois, the flood situation appears far from over.

Darlene MacCubbin, a Red Cross worker who distributes meals to sandbaggers and residents who live on roads impassible by the flood, said there is a resiliency and buoyant spirit that keeps people from succumbing to the flood.

"They all seem positive, even though they know there is more water now than in 1993," she said. "These people love this part of the country and have no intention of moving anywhere else."

Three families have been forced from their homes in the Olive Branch area. Two families from Gale have moved out. "One family moved in with relatives and another is in an apartment in Cape," MacCubbin said. The family residing in Miller City has moved to a motel until the flood subsides.

"If it gets bad enough where we have to house people in a shelter, we'll do what we did in 1993 and use the Egyptian School," said Harold Mills, chairman of the Olive Brance Red Cross chapter.

Kent Honey has circled his yard with sandbags and dirt, which is covered by plastic. "I never had to do that in 1993, but the river is a lot higher this time," Honey said. "You should have seen the hole in this pipe I'm using to drain the water. It just shot water straight into the air. It looked like a geyser."

Kent and his wife, Sherry, have lived at the same home for 10 years and plan to stay put. "We'll pump as much as we can out and let the rest drain into the yard," Kent Honey said calmly.

Although sandbagging has been completed in Southeast Missouri, workers continued to fill bags in Olive Branch and other Illinois communities amid a steady rain Friday.

"Everybody just goes about protecting themselves the best way they know how and they don't make a big deal about it," MacCubbin said. "The last flood was only 11 months ago, so it's not like it's something new to these people."

Officials in Cape Girardeau have completed all preparations for the worst-case scenario this weekend. The National Weather Service is forecasting 50 percent showers and thunderstorms in southwest Missouri and Kansas and scattered showers in Southeast Missouri.

A heavy front extending from Texas to western Tennessee lifted northward. The focus is expected to shift to the northern half of the state with heavy rain falling throughout the weekend.

The Mississippi River crest is now at 45.7 feet and is expected to drop to levels of 45.2, 44.8 and 44.6 feet in the next three days.

Salvation Army Capt. Elmer Trapp said his agency has fed 1,730 volunteers and residents who sandbagged in the Cape Girardeau area.

Some 250 people have been helped with lodging, food, clothing, sump pumps and other items.

Cleaning supplies are needed for the post-flood cleanup. Supplies needed include bleach, all-purpose cleaner, window cleaner, sponges, rubber gloves, buckets and paper towels.

People needing help should call 335-7000. Monetary contributions can be sent to the Salvation Army, Box 802, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0802.

Passes are available to flood victims who wish to use Southeast Missouri State University's Parker Pool and Recreation Center. Passes are free and may be picked up at the Red Cross shelter at Cape Central High School's old gymnasium.