Flood of '16 breaks record in Cape, surpasses Great Flood of 1993

The Mississippi River broke an all-time record in Cape Girardeau on New Year's Day, passing the previous crest established in the Great Flood of 1993.

According to the latest river statement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the river reached 48.61 feet at about 3 p.m. on the holiday.

The government predicts there is still more water coming, with a prediction of a 50-foot crest by about 3 p.m. on Saturday. The river is expected to be above the previous record crest until Monday afternoon.

The flood stage for the river at Cape Girardeau is 32 feet.

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo, visited Cape Girardeau on Friday.

"I can't remember a time when interstate 44 and interstate 70 were closed at the same time," Blunt said. "The fact that the 1993 flood was as long ago as it was there will probable be another one in another 20 years."

Cape Girardeau assistant public works director Stan Polivick said he expects additional flooding in Cape Girardeau to be limited to a bit more water around the levee, and there may be a few more additional houses that have flooding. On Friday, about three inches of water had pooled in front of the Broadway gate. With the Red Star District being the most affected, Polivick said about 20 homes and five to eight businesses have had flooding.

Blunt was already thinking ahead to when the flood will be over -- mentioning potential help for buyouts for people with property in the flood plain -- and stressed the river's importance in the global economy.

"There's a lot of things the federal government does involving floods. There are insurance programs, there is the capacity to help local governments restore infrastructure," Blunt said. "The global demand for food growth is going to double. These inland ports are almost always export ports."

Blunt visited multiple flooding sites on Friday, starting in Perryville and then moving north to the St. Louis area. He said the effort in Perry County was an example of the Army Corps of Engineers, National Guard and local government agencies coming together to act. Corps Col. Anthony Mitchell said there should not be much more flooding in Perry County with the river expected to crest at 46 feet. He said there is a team of 40 Corps workers continuously checking levees.

"We always stress that public safety is paramount," Mitchell said.

Cape Girardeau Sheriff John Jordan said his department is continuously patrolling areas of flooding, particularly for the 32 residents who decided to stay in Allenville. He said Sheriff's officers will bring medicine to people in flooded areas this weekend, although he said getting to Allenville requires a long detour route.

So far the Red Cross Shelter at the Osage Centre has two clients staying the night, as of Friday morning. At meal times, the shelter was averaging between eight and 20 people.

"At this point they're finding better places to stay," shelter manager Maggie Makins said.

The Humane Society Animal Shelter had six dogs and five cats, as of Friday morning -- most from families in Illinois.

"It's hard for people to leave their pets, but this is a good place to be," Humane Society board of director president Charlotte Craig said.

Cape Girardeau road closures include: Big Bend Road creek bridge, Johnson Street at Water Street, Second Street at Big Bend Road, Third Street at Spanish Street, Fourth Street at Spanish Street, Fifth Street at Main Street, Main Street at 5th Street, Aquamsi Street near Morgan Oak Drive, Aquamsi Street at South Fountain Street, Maple Street at Giboney Street, Elm Street at Giboney Street, Sprigg at La Cruz Street and Old Highway 61 off of South Kingshighway starting on Jan. 2.

Missouri Department of Transportation engineer Brian Okenfuss said I-55 should not be in any danger of flooding near the diversion channel.

bkleine@semissourian.com

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