AREA BRACES FOR THREAT OF FLASH FLOODS

The threat of flash floods this weekend has Cape Girardeau city officials on alert for a potentially dangerous situation in the Town Plaza area.

The threat of flash floods in the area would also force the evacuation of approximately 100 residents in Allenville, located about 30 miles west of Cape Girardeau.

"The rain expected in Cape County and Bollinger County in the next few days is the biggest concern right now," Cape County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Brian Miller said. "If the weather holds, I think we'll be okay because we can withstand the level the river is at."

The Mississippi, which crested at 46.7 feet Wednesday, has pushed about five feet of water into the Cape LaCroix Creek by Bloomfield Road, leaving less room for flash-flood water to run through the flood-control channel.

City Engineer J. Kensey Russell said the combination of river water 14.7 feet over flood stage and a forecast calling for flash flooding could leave residents and property owners at a serious risk.

"Immediate life and limb would be the most serious concern right now," Russell said, adding that city police and firefighters are taking precautions in case people need to be evacuated from the area.

Fire Chief Robert Ridgeway said four boats and as many life preservers as he can get will be available if the flash flooding becomes as bad as it did in 1986.

Flash flooding in 1986 dumped 6.64 inches of rainfall on the Town Plaza area, literally shutting down the entire business area. The $30 million LaCroix Creek-Walker Branch flood-control project was born out of that disaster. However, the channel is designed only to handle flash flooding in the area.

Because the flood-control project isn't complete, Russell said the channel would only be partially beneficial to that area's business and property owners.

"The dry detention basin north of town is still not complete, so the water would not drain as quickly as we would like," Russell said. "It will be of some help, though."

Channel improvements have been completed along Cape LaCroix, from South Bloomfield to Arena Park. Walker Creek work is centered on the Bessie Street Bridge and channel improvements. The work on Broadway is expected to be finished this summer.

In the event of flash flooding, sandbags that are being filled in the Red Star District will be moved to the Schnucks parking lot to mitigate damage to homes and businesses in the Town Plaza area.

Sandbags would not help the residents of Allenville, however, because the town is an island.

Miller credits Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan with doing "just an excellent job of preparedness" for residents of Allenville.

"He has made a count of the people and given them all the information they need in the event of an evacuation," Miller said. "We're in better shape there than we've ever been."

The Coast Guard and Missouri Water Patrol are armed with boats and life preservers to help residents of Allenville evacuate. "John Jordan even got the Highway Patrol to send a helicopter that has an infrared light to search for people who might be stuck in trees and so forth," Miller said.

Cape Girardeau County Department of Health Director Charlotte Craig was in Allenville Wednesday taking water samples to test for contamination. Arrangements have been made to supply Allenville with drinking water over the next several days.

Sandbaggers continued to work at Red Star and Dutchtown Wednesday. Police officer Bettie Knoll said juveniles in detention with the Department of Youth Services are sandbagging. In addition, AmeriCorps workers are helping out at the Red Cross office.

AmeriCorps is something of a civilian peace corps project that enlists the services of high school, college and vocational students. The workers receive money to help defray education costs at colleges or vocational-technical schools.

More rain was forecast for today. Some three inches of rain fell on parts of the state north of Cape Girardeau Tuesday night and an additional 1 1/2 inches are predicted for tonight.

Perry County has escaped flood damage thus far. An official for the Perry County Road Department said County Road 702 was closed due to heavy rains of late.

The onset of another flood has given Union Electric another problem on the heels of a spring storm. UE service supervisor Dave Goehring said records are kept of homes shut down by the flood of 1993.

"We act on requests by the customer to shut off the gas and electric and also go to areas that are flooded and assess the situation," Goehring said. Two UE workers travel by boat and turn off gas meters by shutting off a valve. "Sometimes we pull the transformer to shut off power in several homes if the meters are submerged," he said.

Goehring said UE has pulled 83 electric meters and 57 gas meters in the Red Star area, Dutchtown and Commerce. Union Electric restores power once property owners have cleaned up enough to satisfy city inspectors. "Once we know it is safe again, the electric and gas will be turned back on," Goehring said.

Southwestern Bell officials said they act on the request of the customer to shut off the phone line.