MISSISSIPPI CLIMBS ABOVE FLOOD STAGE

Employees of the Cape Girardeau Main Street Levee District are casting cautious eyes on the Mississippi River.

When the river goes above 29 feet on the gauge, city storm-sewer runoff collects in a holding tank instead of flowing freely into the river. If the water gets too high in the tank, which is underground near Main and William, pumps kick in to rid the downtown of runoff water by pumping it into the river.

The Mississippi Wednesday hit 32.4 feet on the Cape Girardeau gauge, four-tenths of a foot above flood stage.

The National Weather Service in St. Louis said the river should reach 33.6 feet today and crest Friday at 34 feet. The river stage Saturday should remain at 34 feet before beginning to drop Sunday.

J.D. King, a levee district worker, said the pumps automatically activate when water in the tank reaches a certain level. The three massive, above-ground pumps also can be activated during a rain storm to rid the downtown of runoff.

More rain is predicted for today.

"If you're not watching, the water can be up to the (tank) door fast," King said. "You have to make sure the pumps kick on when they're supposed to. Sometimes the float will get stuck on debris."

The levee district also maintains three downtown floodgates. When the river reaches 36.2 feet, the Themis Street gate is closed; at 38.7 feet, the Broadway gate is closed, at 47.7 feet, the Frisco Railroad gate near William Street is closed.