CITY COORDINATES FLOOD AID THROUGH DAILY MEETINGS

As Cape Girardeau faces record Mississippi River flooding, coordinating activities and sharing information has been pivotal in emergency planning.

Daily meetings of city department heads and other emergency officials have been held to coordinate efforts during the disaster, City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said Thursday.

The first planning session was held July 9. The number of officials has been whittled down as management of the events has come under control, Fischer said.

The daily briefings allow those with information to share with those who need information.

For example, on Thursday Fischer told the others the members of the Main Street Levee District planned to build a temporary levee on North Main Street as a precaution. "It's just another security measure," Fischer told the group.

City Planner Kent Bratton presented a map showing areas affected if the river reaches a crest of 47 feet.

If it reaches the high crest of 47 feet projected last week, 99 homes and 25 businesses would be affected.

The current crest prediction is for 46.5 feet on Wednesday.

Planning is already under way to deal with cleanup and helping people get back into their flood-damaged homes.

Police Sgt. Carl Kinnison said an informational meeting will be held, perhaps late next week, to provide flood victims information about what they need to do and what city, state and federal assistance is available.

Fischer said city staff is assessing damage. Flooded homes and businesses are being photographed for documentation needed for public assistance.

"A lot of times people come in and start cleaning up before the federal and state people have a chance to make assessments," Fischer said. "We are doing this to assist those people."

Firefighter Mark Hasheider said the photographs are also used to help prepare for future floods.

Hasheider also reported that officials with the state and federal emergency management agencies are looking for office space to set up their public assistance operation in Cape Girardeau. Those services may open late next week.

Hasheider said that the Coast Guard is inspecting Cape LaCroix and Walker creeks. "Not that it is going to flood, but just as a precaution," he said. Water is backing up from the Mississippi past Bloomfield Road.

Doug Leslie, public works director, reported that requests for sand have dropped. Public works employees are still filling sandbags for the airport and water plant.

A new water-intake valve has been installed at the water plant, which will allow the plant to operate during high water. "It will be a permanent installation," Leslie said. "It's very flexible in terms of the level of the river."

Leslie said spraying for mosquitoes has begun by truck along edges of flooded areas. Additional spraying by employees with backpack sprayers is planned in areas that are accessible. He said he is investigating alternative methods for inaccessible areas.

Fire Chief Robert Ridgeway said the four phone lines in place at the fire department have adequately handled calls from residents with questions about the flood. He said that since the volume of calls has tapered off over the past couple of days, no longer will an extra person be on duty from midnight to 8 a.m.

He said that fuel storage facilities have been inspected through fly-over and drive-by inspections, and they appear safe.

Police Chief Howard Boyd Jr. said trespassing on the floodwall has decreased and police are patrolling the flooded areas by boat.

He said police have fielded numerous calls from media representatives across the nation. Recently, national network television stations have made inquiries about Cape Girardeau, said Boyd.

Kinnison said a rumor that Cape Girardeau's sandbag supply has run out is false. The Corps of Engineers has a supply of 200,000 with more arriving daily.

The meetings will continue through the duration of the flood.