OFFICIALS TO MEET WITH CARNAHAN

State Sen. Peter Kinder says he is anxious to attend a meeting Saturday hosted by Gov. Mel Carnahan to see what kind of assistance will be available for area residents facing losses due to flooding.

The damage stakes increased significantly in Kinder's 27th District early Sunday morning when a levee near McBride in Perry County gave way, allowing water to back into a 28,000-acre area.

Besides thousands of acres of prime farm land and homes, also flooded were the Gilster Mary Lee and the Sabreliner Corp. plants, which together employ about 600 people.

Kinder, after learning of the levee break Sunday morning, contacted U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson's chief of staff Lloyd Smith in Sikeston and made arrangements to meet him in Cape Girardeau. The two drove to Perry County together and arrived around noon.

"Even before I left Cape I had been told there was nothing to do, just get out what they could," said Kinder. "It was awe-inspiring to see that water rise that rapidly over such a huge area."

Kinder said it was very fortunate that the levee did not break farther north where the area would have been inundated with headwaters, which would have had more force and have risen more rapidly.

Carnahan sent a letter to state legislators in the flooded areas and local government officials, advising them of a meeting he plans to hold from 1-5 p.m. in Jefferson City Saturday.

The purpose of the meeting is share information about disaster assistance and to hear concerns about the state's effort. The ultimate goal of the meeting, the governor stressed, is to insure that everyone is working together with "a coordinated response."

State Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, also intends to participate in Saturday's meeting, as do representatives from the city of Cape Girardeau.

As a member of the House Budget Committee, Kasten participated in a joint meeting of the House and Senate appropriations committees last Thursday, where department heads and the governor explained the extent of the flood damage. Ultimately, a special session of the General Assembly may need to be called to appropriate money for the disaster relief.

The estimated damage so far is $2.7 billion in Missouri and the projected state share of the damage costs will be $72 million.

"The real problem is that it will be some time before we will fully know the extent of the damage, and the water is still coming up," said Kasten. "The longer it lasts, the more the costs will accelerate ... unfortunately, we are in this for the long haul."

Currently there are 250 miles of highway underwater in the state, including a large stretch of Highway 51 that runs between Perryville and Chester, Ill. Estimate costs of repairing highways along runs between $12 million and $18 million.

In addition, at least 10 airports are flooded, a number of landfills and hazardous waste disposal sites have been flooded, and a number of state buildings and some equipment have been damaged.

"It is horrendous in every way," said Kasten. "The only good thing is the great human effort that has been made on behalf of each one's neighbor."

Kinder said one thing he is concerned about are rumors about the condition of levees in the area, especially the Diversion Channel levee south of Cape Girardeau.

Kinder said all reports from the Corps are that the big levee is in good shape.

At Saturday's meeting, members of the governor's cabinet will provide information. Also small group meetings will be held by region to discuss concerns and ideas on assistance to families, farmers and displaced workers; safe water; control of infectious disease; sanitation; and dealing with the anxiety that follows a natural disaster.