FLASH FLOODING AND TORNADO CLAIM LIVES OF FIVE IN THE REGION

A night of severe weather on May 15, 1986, ravaged Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties and claimed the lives of five people.

Up to 10 inches of rain fell in some areas, with Cape Girardeau receiving 6.64 inches in a 24-hour period. Most of that rain fell late May 15.

As part of the same storm, much of the small Scott County community of Vanduser was devastated by tornado and a twister snaked its way through portions of Sikeston as well.

For Cape Girardeau, the damage came in the form of water and lots of it.

Rain had fallen periodically May 14 and again during the day of May 15. The deluge began in earnest at about 10 p.m., quickly swelling creeks and flooding streets.

The flooding stranded scores of people in the city's west end. As waters rose, those caught in the torrent sought shelter wherever they could; some were forced to break into nearby businesses to escape the currents.

Many were terrified, helpless as water coursed through their homes. Later they were homeless, victims of the storm.

Two Cape Girardeau residents, Maude W. Dantzler, 76, and Samuel Jones, 56, drowned after they abandoned their pickup truck on a flooded Cape Girardeau street and were swept away.

When the water receded, the damage was calculated. Nearly 900 Southeast Missouri families were affected by the storm. Five were dead, 30 were injured. In the five affected counties, 75 homes were destroyed and another 800 homes damaged, along with 425 businesses.

Long distance service south of Cape Girardeau was disrupted by the tornadoes. The Red Cross was besieged with calls from anxious friends and relatives inquiring about the safety of those in Southeast Missouri. Ham radio operators were pressed into action to locate information about people in the area.

Among flood casualties was a sentimental one. Rain-swollen Apple Creek in Old Appleton washed away the 162-year-old McClaine's Mill. All that remained of the three-story timber building was the stone foundation.

The storm put Cape Girardeau at a near standstill. Schools and businesses were closed. Over 150 miles of roads were out of service. Four bridges were washed out.

Throughout the ordeal, there were stories of neighbors helping neighbors and strangers helping strangers. There was the story of a small dog plucked from a tree by a caring neighbor; there was the story of Cape Girardeau veterinarian John Koch who spent the night in his animal clinic in the west end carrying cages containing animals to safety; there was story after story of boats carrying stranded flood victims to safety.

The storm had an additional long-term effect. The Cape Girardeau City Council took a serious look at ways to fund a proposed flood control project along the Cape LaCroix and Walker Creeks in the city.

The flooding generated new attention to old plans for retention basins and widened channels.

In a cooperative effort between the city and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, work on a flood control project through the city began. Work continues on the project today.