RELIEF: CARNAHAN: STATE WILL DO ITS PART

During a visit to Cape Girardeau County Thursday morning, Gov. Mel Carnahan praised the work of volunteers and the National Guard in battling floodwaters and promised the state will do its part to fund disaster relief efforts.

The governor also said his office will keep the pressure on Washington to make sure federal aid is sufficient. Once floodwaters start to recede, there still will be a lot of work ahead to clean up and rebuild from the record flooding across much of Missouri, the governor said.

Carnahan flew into the Cape Airport on a National Guard plane with Adjutant General Raymond Pendergrass, and then boarded a Guard helicopter and flew along the Diversion Channel to Dutchtown. He spent just over an hour in Dutchtown visiting with residents and volunteers, and talking with guardsmen.

"I want to see what's going on out here," said Carnahan. "I have heard a lot about it, but need to see it." The governor has traveled extensively to flooded areas of the state the last several weeks.

Capt. Duane K. Eastman, who is commanding officer of the National Guard's 1140th Headquarters Company in Cape Girardeau, took Carnahan and Pendergrass on a tour of the area.

After leaving Dutchtown, Carnahan viewed the flooding situation in Cape Girardeau from the air before returning to the airport for a trip back to Jefferson City, where he was going to meet with House and Senate budget committee members about methods of funding the state's relief efforts.

Whether talking with volunteers, guardsmen, or town residents, Carnahan inquired about how progress was going and offered words of praise and thanks for their efforts. He noted that similar efforts were going on throughout Missouri as citizens join together to battle this crisis.

"I've got to hand it to you all, these efforts are impressive," Carnahan told several Dutchtown residents as he surveyed a nearly half-mile-long sandbag levee running down Highway 74.

Clarence Carnell, Bill Geiser and Fred Propst described the effort that went into building the wall and some of the problems they had encountered. "I think we've got it high enough," Geiser told the governor, pointing out that the sand bags could probably handle two more feet of water.

Carnahan inquired about how they decided where the levee should be placed. Propst replied: "Governor, we've had one here before."

Asked by Carnahan to compare this flood to previous one, Carnell, who has taken charge of flood-fighting efforts at Dutchtown for years, observed: "Rough ... about double of what we've had before."

Several residents bragged about their volunteers, pointing out that people from a number of states just came out to lend a hand when they heard help was needed.

Cape County Sheriff Norman Copeland told Carnahan the effort at Dutchtown "couldn't be any better." He added that the Guard has made a big difference and has worked well with the volunteers.

"They are a good bunch of people and moved in here and went to work," said the sheriff. "And, they are not doing that just for you either ... they've been going hard since they came here."

Carnell explained that guardsmen were raising the levee and beefing it up some.

One woman asked Carnahan why it took so long to get the National Guard to Dutchtown after the request was made Sunday night. Carnahan said there was no delay and explained, "We assessed the situation and came as quick as we could."

But the woman persisted and continued to press the governor. Said Carnahan, "We have gone to places we can do the most good as quick as we can. I think we responded well and have done a good job."

After another question by the woman, the governor said: "Ma'am, I think we need to look forward and be positive."

The woman said was willing to do that - after she got to the bottom of the problems that she felt delayed the troops' arrival.

Carnahan agreed with her that volunteers were making the difference in flood-fighting efforts around the state, and that the Guard could not fight the flood alone.

Later, the women conceded to Carnahan that the National Guard has been a big help to the town. "They really worked after they got here," she said.

Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, joined Carnahan and praised citizens for beating the odds in holding off the water. "Two weeks ago, a lot of folks said this couldn't be done," said Kinder.

As he boarded the helicopter to leave Dutchtown, Carnahan said he was moved by the strong spirit of cooperation and commitment he had seen by everyone.

Said Carnahan: "This is really heartwarming to see the sheer energy put into these projects like this one here, and all over the state. They are fighting a war against that water ... it really is amazing how they come in here and meld together - the volunteers with the National Guard, and other groups like the Salvation Army and Red Cross."

From viewing the disaster situation first hand, Carnahan said he has sensed that this flood is more than damaged crops, roads, and buildings. "This is really a human tragedy," he said.

All over the state, Carnahan said, he has been stunned by the amount of water involved, with the banks of all river tributaries full from hill to hill and no place else for water to go.

What makes this so different from other disasters, Carnahan said, is how long it has lasted. He noted that many people have been under pressure for two weeks or longer, with really no end in sight.

Like other officials, Carnahan expressed concern about the impact of additional rainfall on the region and promised the state will do whatever it can to deal with the crisis.

Carnahan said he is unsure how the state will come up with its share of flood relief money, but said paying for the crisis likely will result in deferring or deleting some expenditures planned for the fiscal 1994 budget.

He said he will meet with the legislative budget committees later today because funding "is their shared responsibility with the administration."

So far, Carnahan said the damage caused in Missouri is estimated at $2.7 billion, with about $1.4 billion of those losses agriculture-related. He explained that the $2.7 billion is larger than the amount the federal government has allocated for the entire region.

"I don't know exactly what method will be used, but the state will come up with its share," the governor promised. "We are testing all theories on how to meet our needs ... everything is on the table."

If funds in the current state budget have to be re-allocated, the legislature will have to meet to take the action. Carnahan said it is likely a special session will have to be called to deal with the funding. A special session could be held in conjunction with the annual veto session scheduled in January.

Fifty-nine of Missouri's 114 counties have been declared federal disaster areas because of flooding.