LOCAL BUSINESSES FIGHT BACK AGAINST FLOODING

Several businesses in Perry and Cape Girardeau counties have fallen victim of the flood of '93.

Sabreliner and Glister-Mary Lee in Perryville were two businesses hardest hit. But even with the Mississippi River floodwall some businesses in Cape Girardeau also have been affected.

Currently, Sabreliner has about 12 feet of water in its plant and the water level is holding steady, said Ron Herman, plant manager of operations.

"We're still operating, but not at 100 percent," he said. "We've set up our aircraft and engine shop in a couple of buildings in Perryville, and we're also sending some of our employees to Lambert Field in St. Louis."

Herman said Sabreliner was able to save a majority of its inventory and it also has gone back in with boats and scuba diving equipment to get out high-priority equipment.

"The equipment we have recovered was in extremely good condition, and it cleaned up perfectly," Herman said.

Due to its limited operation, a majority of Sabreliner's employees were laid off temporarily, Herman said. "But we are calling some of them back and we'll call more back as they are required," he said. "We feel we will be continually calling back employees, and the number will continue to grow with time and as cleanup begins," he said.

The plant had to lay off about 230 workers, but by the end of this week they will have approximately 50 people back to work at one facility, Herman said.

Sabreliner is also looking for another airport where it can have more room to fly airplanes, Herman said.

"But our intention is to go back into the same location, and we're working on some cleanup plans at this time," Herman said. "We have contacted businesses in Des Moines to find out about approved cleaning methods.

"But how to clean up the area still needs to be determined, and it depends on how fast the river falls and how long the cleanup method takes."

Herman said unfortunately it's a guessing game and the condition of equipment that is left inside will not be known until the water is gone.

"If the first part is any indication, then it should be in fairly good condition," he said. "I would say some or most of the equipment will be in workable condition with some repair to it."

Herman said Sabreliner has insurance, but it is also looking at other aid. "At this point we can't determine ourcosts until we see the damage that is done," he said.

Gilster-Mary Lee is in the same situation as Sabreliner. Its popcorn plant and distribution center at McBride are under about 14 feet of water, said owner Don Welger.

"We were only able to get about 10 percent of our equipment out and about one-third of our inventory," Welger said. "All our products, not just popcorn, were kept in the distribution center before being shipped out."

Welger said he believed most of the equipment will be salvageable with some repair and cleaning, but the inventory in the plant is lost.

"We have over 500 employees, and we have been able to place about 300 of them in the other plants," Welger said.

Gilster-Mary Lee has a cake mix and cereal plant in Perryville that has not been affected by the floodwaters, Welger said.

"We are planning on going back into the same plant," Welger said. "As soon as the river goes down, we will call back all our employees and begin the massive cleanup, so we can get back into business as quick as we can.

"We're hopeful the river will go down in the next 30 days, but we just don't know for sure."

Gilster-Mary Lee will need FDA approval before it can resume operations in its flooded facility because it is a food manufacturer, Welger said.

Cape Girardeau businesses on the north and south ends of town also have been affected by rising floodwaters.

Twelve businesses have been affected by the flooding to some extent, said Ken Eftink, planning coordinator for the city. Some have had to completely shut down their operations while others still have their offices open.

Eftink said businesses in the north end of the city that are affected include Mid-South Steel Products Inc., Cape Girardeau Sand Co., and Blattner Engineering Inc. Cape Girardeau Sand Co. is completely shut down, while Mid-South Steel's office is open, but production is shut down, he said.

Other businesses affected include Kasten Block Plant, Missouri Dry Docks, Younghouse Distributing Co. Inc., Consolidated Grain and Barge Co. and Commercial Transport, Eftink said.

Lone Star Industries Inc. also has been affected by flooding, but it is still in operation, Eftink said. "They went to a lot of work and expense to protect their property and South Sprigg Street with levees."

Eftink said Lone Star's work has benefitted the city because Cape Girardeau has a trash transfer station on South Sprigg and Lone Star is helping keep it open.

There are also several smaller businesses like Maco Motors Inc. on Highway 177, as well as some warehouses and city facilities that have been affected by floodwaters.

"In addition, there are also a number of businesses along the brink of floodwater that have taken measures to keep the water out," Eftink said. "But in doing so they have made it more difficult for customers and supplies to reach their businesses.

"And having employees busy stacking sandbags causes production to be slowed down; nothing else really gets done."

Procter and Gamble also has experienced some flooding on parking lots, said Larry Stahlman, public affairs manager. "We have water on about half of our parking spots, but it has not impacted production or shipping," he said.