CLEAR SKIES GIVE SOME A FLOOD RESPITE

Paul Barragan, on-scene Coast Guard disaster response commander for Cape Girardeau, was finally able to think about something Monday other than sandbags, saturated levees and the next onslaught of rainfall.

"I can smell the charcoal," Barragan said with noticeable enthusiasm around 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Although he was still away from his own barbecue grill, Barragan had no difficulty imagining what it would be like in a few hours, mindful that there was still time to participate in a traditional Memorial Day ritual.

Barragan was just one of many who took an appreciated respite from flood control duty Monday.

Brian Miller, emergency preparedness coordinator for Cape Girardeau County, said he was trying to recharge before embarking on another week of flood concerns.

"I think everybody has gone through quite a bit," Miller said. "I'm just trying to rest a little right now."

The emergency operations committee will meet again Tuesday morning at City Hall in Cape Girardeau.

"We've done just about everything we could today," Barragan said. "We'll close up shop until tomorrow and start the whole thing over again."

With no rain predicted by the National Weather Service for the next few days, Barragan and other disaster relief workers are keeping a constant watch on levees in the area.

The Mississippi River on Monday was at 45.5 feet and holding at Cape Girardeau. The Ohio River at Cairo is still at 55 feet and holding. According to a spokesman for the Scott County Sheriff's Department, no new developments occurred at Commerce over the weekend or early Monday.

A spokesman for the Scott County Sheriff's Department said the bridge between Cairo, Ill. and Wickliff, Ky., remains closed, causing motorists to cross the river at Caruthersville or Metropolis, Ill., instead.

The Scott County Sheriff's Department is monitoring levees in much the same manner as the Coast Guard.

Barragan said the Coast Guard primarily is keeping a close eye on levees at the Red Star area in northeast Cape Girardeau, Dutchtown, Commerce and Allenville.

"We're making daily visits to the areas to get an idea how much debris is there and also to make a check on the levees," he said. "So far it looks like everything is on hold. We're just hoping the levees aren't too saturated to stand up to all the rain we've had lately."

Mary Burton, executive director of the American Red Cross in Cape Girardeau, said she would have loved the luxury of having a barbecue Monday.

"There just isn't any time for something like that," Burton said. "I told my family the only way they'll see me today is if they come to the Red Cross office."

Burton was busy attending to the 15 persons housed at the shelter at Cape Girardeau Central High School and keeping volunteers from succumbing to fatigue.

"We're having trouble coming up with enough volunteers today," Burton said. "The volunteers we have are doing a tremendous job. It takes a special person to want to do this. They're handling the stress and constant need for things to get done about as well as could be expected."

The population at the shelter has dwindled to half of what it was when the Red Cross opened the doors Thursday afternoon.

"Some of the people have moved elsewhere, but it's not back into their homes," Burton said. "We've had to keep some of the people in motels because there is a cancer patient and others with medical problems."

The Red Cross received calls from flood victims in Dorena, about 60 miles south of East Prairie, and Penhook, which is near Charleston.

"We're trying to help about 19 families in Penhook find alternate housing and there is a lot of backwater coming into Dorena," Burton said.