FLOOD OF 1993: HUCKSTEP: `WE'VE GOT THE BIG DADDY THIS TIME'; COUNTY COMMISSION ORDERS A CURFEW OF FLOODING AREAS

JACKSON - The Cape Girardeau County Commission, meeting in special session Friday afternoon, approved an order imposing a curfew in flooded areas of the county until further notice.

The curfew takes effect at 6 p.m. Saturday and is designed to prevent sightseers and looters from entering areas now flooded by rising Mississippi River waters and areas that soon will be flooded.

Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said the commission wanted to take action Friday because "the situation is going to deteriorate rapidly." A record crest of 47 feet is predicted Friday at Cape Girardeau.

"We've got the big daddy this time," Huckstep said of the flood. "This will be the biggest flood in any of our lifetimes. We want to lay the ground rules out now.

"We will not tolerate any looting, speed-boating or 4-wheel-driving in any of these areas," he said. "These people will suffer enough without being subjected to looters or joy riders.

"It's going to be tough and it is going to be enforced. If you don't have any official business in this area, people should stay out."

He said curfew areas could be expanded later by Sheriff Norman Copeland without further commission action.

"If the situation deteriorates, these zones are subject to spread," said Huckstep.

Under the order, Copeland has the authority to appoint special deputies as needed to enforce the curfew.

Carl Kinnison, public information officer for the Cape Police Department, pledged the support of his department. "We will strictly enforce the curfew, as the county will," said Kinnison.

Huckstep warned that anyone violating the curfew would be subject to strong legal action. Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle and his chief assistant, Ian Sutherland, attended the session.

Huckstep said the travel restrictions do not apply to law enforcement and emergency personnel, residents of the areas who are going to and from their homes, and employees of Procter and Gamble who are traveling to and from their jobs and must cross a curfew zone.

The presiding commissioner said he had no idea when the curfew would be lifted. He expressed concern that heavy rains could compound the situation because there is no place for water to go.

"The water can't get out; culverts in the south part of the county are plugged," he said.

Huckstep and Cape County Emergency Operations Director Brian Miller praised the state for help it has provided. County officials were undecided whether to ask for Missouri National Guard assistance; they planned to monitor the situation carefully.

Huckstep said Friday night that he did not think the Guard would be needed.

"If it looks like we are going to start losing some of these levies, we'll probably need to get the Guard out."

"The state has been beautiful to us," said Huckstep. "The state highway department has provided Commissioner (Larry) Bock with six trucks and drivers to haul sand from Dexter. And, we have been in contact with the state emergency management agency."

In addition, assistance is available from the Missouri Highway Patrol, Water Patrol, and Missouri Conservation Department.

Bock is coordinating hauling of sand in the outcounty.

Representatives from the Corps of Engineers have toured the area and were making sandbags available to residents. Sandbags were available at the Corps of Engineers office in the Federal Building in Cape Girardeau and from the sheriff's office in Jackson.

Huckstep said he was trying to get more sandbags into the area to ensure that supplies remain plentiful.

In the area outside the city of Cape Girardeau, Huckstep said about 350 people are now or will be affected by the flooding.

In the city of Cape Girardeau, Capt. Steve Strong of the police department said about 30 families and 11 businesses are affected, but that number could quickly increase. "A lot of it will depend on the weather we have over the next few days," said Strong.

All volunteers in the county are being coordinated by the Salvation Army. Assistance to victims is being directed by the Red Cross. Miller explained that under its emergency plan Cape County has a contract with the agencies to provide those services.

All of the officials Friday expressed the need for volunteers to help in sandbagging efforts. They said that the next 48 hours are critical to get sandbag levies in place, but once that is done there will still be considerable effort required to keep the levies in good condition.

In making the levies, Huckstep said, "You don't want to make any mistakes because you do not get a second chance."

In the 1986 flood, Huckstep said that between 65,000 and 70,000 sandbags were used at Dutchtown, and in 1983 even more were used. As of Friday, 100,000 sandbags had been stockpiled at Dutchtown.

Miller explained that once levies are in place wave action caused by rain and wind can cause them to deteriorate quickly.

Residents in the curfew area can receive a pass at Fire Station No. 1, Sprigg and Independence, to verify their residency.

Kinnison warned motorists not to drive across barricaded roadways or to move barricades off the roadway. Driving across these roads is not only a safety hazard, but it also creates waves that push the water closer to homes in the area, he said.

Cape Girardeau Fire Chief Robert Ridgeway said residents in the path of floodwaters are advised to leave. "If they need help with moving furniture, the Salvation Army is available," he said. "If they need housing, the Red Cross is providing that."

Union Electric shuts off electricity and gas to flooded areas.

Ridgeway said the city has the authority to order individuals to leave their home if they are in danger. But so far no one has refused to leave, he said.

The city has established an emergency operations center to coordinate efforts during the flood. A 24-hour hotline at the fire department provides information about the flood. The telephone number is 334-3211.

"We will act as a clearinghouse," Ridgeway said. "All the information will come to us, and someone will be on duty 24 hours a day to answer questions."

In the outcounty, anyone with problems should contact the county emergency operations center at 243-7703.