RIVER BACK UP FOLLOWING 37.6-FOOT CREST THURSDAY

The Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau crested Thursday morning at 37.6 feet, and then dropped as much as two-tenths of a foot.

But the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., said the river is expected to rise about half a foot and crest again here at 38 feet today.

Weather service spokeswoman Mary Lamm said the Mississippi didn't rise as much as was originally forecast. Earlier this week, officials predicted the river would crest at 42 feet, but the crest forecast has changed daily.

Mark Hasheider with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department and coordinator of the city's flood preparedness said a 38-foot crest doesn't change much for the city.

"We're still OK," he said. "In the city of Cape Girardeau, things really don't start occurring until we reach that 39- or 40-feet level."

Firefighters and officers with the police department notified residents in areas typically affected by flooding -- Red Star and Smelterville -- in north and south Cape Girardeau, respectively.

Lamm said rains in northern Missouri would affect the river level at Cape Girardeau early to late next week. Rainfall in this area would have a more immediate effect on the river level, she said.