Rain forces evacuations, rescues in eastern Missouri

UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Parts of the St. Louis region saw more than 3 inches of rain, prompting some temporary evacuations and water rescues.

Some eastern Missouri communities were expected to get 2 more inches of rainfall into Wednesday.

Twenty-six homes were evacuated Tuesday as a precaution in the St. Louis suburb of University City after the River Des Peres overflowed.

Fire Department battalion chief Brian Moore said residents were returning home Tuesday once utility companies gave the OK. A few had flooded basements.

In St. Charles County, firefighters reported at least 20 calls for water rescues on Monday. Assistant chief Scott Freitag with the Cottleville Fire Protection district said flash flooding occurred across low-lying roads. No serious injuries were reported.