CAPE GIRARDEAU'S FLOOD COSTS SO FAR EXCEED $100,000; LIKELY TO GO HIGHER

Like the floodwaters edging up at Cape Girardeau, the costs of fighting back the Mississippi River are rising.

Direct costs incurred by Cape Girardeau city government and levee districts, as of Tuesday, topped $100,000.

As of Tuesday, approximately 120 residential structures and 275 people had been affected by floodwaters. A dozen commercial properties are closed and an additional 10 seriously affected.

And it's not over, said City Manager J. Ronald Fischer at the Wednesday briefing of city officials.

City Engineer Kensey Russell presented a report sent to the State Emergency Management Agency requesting financial assistance.

City officials have also begun putting together estimates of costs for cleanup and repairs after the floodwater recedes.

"We are trying to identify specific public facilities affected and response costs for post flood recovery," Russell said.

"We are now working on making some assessment of the damage," said Al Stoverink, assistant city manager. "We don't know what damage we have to things like sewers and streets that are under water."

Fischer said: "A number of things are still occurring and other things are unpredictable. We won't know the extent of damage until after the water recedes.

"We know we will have mud mud covering streets, homes, parks. We know we will have costs for mosquito control and building inspections."

Already the city has spent money fighting back floodwaters. For example, the city bought nearly 600 tons of sand for sandbagging efforts.

The city also has purchased items like personal flotation vests for employees who must boat in and out of facilities or patrol flooded areas.

An additional camera and film was purchased to document flood damage.

The list continues to grow.

At the briefing Wednesday, Fischer also discussed preliminary plans under way to help residents get back into their homes after the water recedes.

"If the electric or gas meter has been removed because of flooding, before UE will reinstall the meter, the home must have had some sort of inspection," Fischer said.

A team of inspectors will work in flood-damaged areas to help residents determine what needs to be done to ensure safety. City inspection fees will not be charged.

Two large, round hay bales floated out of a field during Tuesday's rainstorm and lodged in the Cape LaCroix Creek at South Sprigg Street. Wednesday, work was under way to dislodge the bales so water would not back up around the hay.

Stoverink described a success story South Sprigg Road, which has remained open south of Lone Star Cement allowing access to the plant and the city's transfer station. After repeated flooding, the road was raised and an earthen levee has been put in place.