GUARD AIDS DUTCHTOWN FLOOD FIGHT

JACKSON - On July 9, at a briefing to discuss flood conditions in Cape Girardeau County, Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said he would ask for National Guard troops only as a last resort.

He proudly said Cape County had a strong corps of volunteers and the resources to deal with the rising floodwaters. He also pointed out that there were cities and counties above Cape County along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers that were facing a greater, more immediate crisis that would need National Guard assistance.

On Sunday evening, Huckstep concluded it was time to call on the National Guard. Volunteers had done a good job building a levy on the east side of Highway 25, and it was strong. But an earthen levy on the west side of the highway protecting Dutchtown from Hubble Creek had started to deteriorate. A decision was made that a 350-foot long, 6-foot-high sandbag levy would have to be constructed about 15 feet away from the earthen levy to further protect the town.

Weather forecasts called for a good chance of rain, and the Mississippi River flood crest was revised upward. Huckstep was concerned.

"I like to see people help themselves, but these people in Dutchtown have given all they've got," said Huckstep, who requested the Guard through the state's emergency management agency at 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

"I was told they would be here in full force in six to eight hours, which is certainly acceptable," said Huckstep. He said he hoped they could tackle the new levy project at sunrise.

But shortly before noon no Guard troops had shown up and the presiding commissioner was concerned. One member of the Guard showed up at 1 a.m. and at 6 a.m. to assess the situation, but that was all.

"We're either going to win it today or lose it, but we need the help right away," said Huckstep. "If during an emergency it takes this long to mobilize help, something is wrong in the hierarchy."

After receiving a call shortly before noon from Clarence Carnell, a resident of Dutchtown who is overseeing the flood battle, Huckstep left the County Commission meeting and drove to Dutchtown where he spent the rest of the day.

Finally, after repeated calls to find out what is going on, and a call by Sen. Peter Kinder to the governor's office, Huckstep was advised by Gov. Mel Carnahan's chief of staff, Marc Farinella, that help was on the way.

At 2:35 p.m. the first group of six guardsmen showed up, and by 4 there were about 18. Later in the afternoon about 50 Guard troops were in place "working hard," Huckstep said.

The 1140th Headquarters Company based in Cape Girardeau was activated to assist in the effort.

Huckstep said he was upset by the delay in getting the National Guard out because he had been advising state emergency officials that he would not request the Guard unless absolutely necessary; if he made a request, it would be urgent.

"I was told that guardsmen were on alert for here," said Huckstep. "I guess it is my fault because I didn't request them earlier so they could come here and stand around. I'm just frustrated. I don't know what to say."

About 50 youths from the Mingo Job Corps Center arrived on the scene Monday to provide badly needed manpower, but Huckstep said he was concerned that the levy might give way and injure volunteers.

"Right now we have some major leaks. If they progressively get worse and it starts to leak with any volume at all, we will pull up stakes and get people out of here," said Huckstep late Monday.

Associate Commissioner Larry Bock has been coordinating the effort to get supplies around the county, and Huckstep said Dutchtown had plenty of materials Monday; it just needed manpower.

Another 55,000 sandbags were delivered to the Dutchtown site.

There are about 30 houses in Dutchtown that are threatened by the high water, and about half of them have been evacuated. Huckstep said that over the weekend an effort was made to get elderly people moved out.

Huckstep was also concerned about the impact of a heavy rain, which could leave water in the area between the levies. Rains could also cause problems at nearby Allenville.

Said Huckstep: "Hopefully the Good Lord will keep looking out for us like he has been. If we can just keep these levies solid and the rain holds off, we should be able to come out of this okay."