Red Cross looking to St. Louis to see how bad Cape flooding may be

As the Mississippi River continues to rise, American Red Cross officials said that St. Louis could be an indicator of whether predicted extensive flooding will occur in such areas as Cape Girardeau later this week.

This morning the National Weather Service predicted a crest of 39 feet on June 21 in St. Louis, 10 feet lower than the 1993 crest. If that prediction comes true and the areas north of the city receive a minimal amount of rainfall, then Cape Girardeau could escape earlier, more severe forecasted flooding.

"All eyes are on the Mississippi River," Joe Becker, senior vice president of disaster services for the American Red Cross, said today. "The projection is for the flooding to occur just north of St. Louis and if that happens, it won't be a significant factor in the city. But if more rain falls, then we could be looking at a completely different situation.

"By all indications, Cape Girardeau should be getting better and better, not worse and worse."

Earlier forecasts had predicted the Mississippi River would crest at 44.5 feet on June 24 in Cape Girardeau. However, on Monday the predicted crest had decreased to 43.5 feet. If the river crests at that level, it would mark the seventh-highest recorded level in the city.

The forecast is based on rain already in the streams and rivers to the north. More rainfall may alter the crest height and date.

The good news, Becker stressed, is that flooding is not expected to reach the 1993 mark, when the Mississippi River reached an all-time high crest of 48.49 feet in Cape Girardeau.

While no shelters have been opened and no teams have been activated to Cape Girardeau yet, local Red Cross officials said that could change.

Kessie Hinkle, director of the Southeast Missouri chapter of the American Red Cross, said shelters could be opened within a two-hour notice. But she added that, unlike March when record rainfall resulted in unexpected flooding, there is more time to prepare for the possible disaster.

"Since we have an entire week to prepare everyone, we'll be able to get the word out about what folks should do in wake of the flooding," Hinkle said. "And that will allow people more time to get their plans in place for shelter instead of having to evacuate in the middle of the night."