Cape offering sand, shelter to area flood victims

The city of Cape Girardeau's efforts to provide sandbags to the public for the flood fight has prompted some confusion, officials said Tuesday.

Sandbags are available at the Public Works department, 2007 Southern Expressway. Sand piles are available at the downtown Merriwether pump station and at Red Star Baptist Church, 1301 Main St.

But the sand and sandbags will be distributed only to Cape Girardeau residents. Those seeking sandbags must show photo identification that shows a city address, officials said in a news release.

Cape Girardeau County residents may contact the emergency management office in the county administration building in Jackson to receive bags to fill with sand. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Nearly 6 inches of ran fell in the area over the past three days, Jackson Fire Department officials said.

The American Red Cross opened a shelter Tuesday afternoon in the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau for those who have been displaced by rising floodwaters.

In addition, a pet shelter has opened in the 4-H building at Arena Park. Animal owners are asked to bring their animals' immunization records. If their pets require a special diet, the owners must provide the food, officials said.

The animal shelter will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily until further notice.

As of late Tuesday, sections of more than a dozen Cape Girardeau city street were closed to traffic because of high water.

The city has suspended collection of brush, limbs, leaves and Christmas trees because the city's holding area on the south end of town remains inaccessible because of flooding. Services will resume once floodwaters recede, officials said.