WATERS STALK 56 CAPE HOMES, 9 FIRMS

Relief efforts throughout Cape Girardeau have intensified as flood waters steadily rise, forcing more people to leave their homes.

Approximately 56 area homes and 9 businesses have been affected to some degree by the surging flood waters. Seven area families have sought emergency shelter from the American Red Cross.

The river stage at Cape Girardeau Sunday was 43.2 feet, rising to a projected crest of 47 feet on July 20.

Cape Girardeau police spent a great deal of time over the weekend chasing people away from flooded areas of town, enforcing the county-wide curfew which began at 6 p.m. Saturday.

"We've only issued three citations, but we've given 17 warnings in the past 24 hours," said Officer Joyce Statler. "By now it should be clear that if you're not authorized to be in a flood zone, you're going to be cited."

A 9-year-old male swimming in the flood waters was cited on Saturday for violating the court-ordered curfew.

Jack R. Hacker, 17, of Wickliffe, Ky., and Scott R. Whiteaker, 23, of 2959 Whitener St., were caught driving around posted barricades within the city and were cited for violating the curfew, police said.

Not only are police trying to keep sightseers and potential looters away from closed streets, they are chasing people away from the flood wall.

Extra officers have been called in to monitor the flooded areas exclusively. The officers are driving the city's four-wheel-drive Ford Bronco on their patrols.

"We're pretty shorthanded right now," Statler said. "Our zone officers have to be able to respond to calls throughout the city, so they brought in extra officers today to patrol the flood zones and to respond to reports of curfew violations."

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department is issuing passes for area residents or relatives helping family members move from flood-ridden areas.

Capt. Ron Kistner at Fire Station No. 1 said the city has issued "a bunch" of permits in the last day and a half.

Only persons with permits will be allowed to travel in flooded areas.

Police advise residents and business owners in flood-prone areas particularly along Cape LaCroix, Walker, Ramsey and Juden creeks to take whatever precautions they feel necessary.

The American Red Cross has established a district relief office in Cape Girardeau to serve all of Southeast Missouri and significant portions of Southern Illinois.

"We have a whole fleet of brand-new emergency relief vehicles outside that we are presently loading," said Mary Burton, executive director of the Cape Girardeau County chapter of the American Red Cross. "We're doing mass feedings and setting up shelters where they are needed."

The national division of the American Red Cross has taken over the building at 1221 N. Kingshighway, and has established a temporary shelter at Lynwood Baptist Church.

"We want to ask anyone who needs help or who knows someone who needs assistance to contact us," Burton said. "We don't have the manpower to go door to door looking for victims.

Mobile feeding stations will be sent to centralized locations once flood victims have been identified, Burton said. "We can also provide storage space, shelters and clothing to people in need of assistance."

Burton said the Red Cross pays for secured storage units because "it's cheaper for us to help save what people currently have than to replace it after it's been damaged by flood waters."

People requiring assistance are urged to contact the Red Cross at 335-5147.

The Cape Girardeau County Health Department is providing free tetanus booster shots for workers and victims of the flood.

"The water itself is dirty, but when you're walking in water and you can't see your feet, you could step on something or otherwise injure yourself," said Charlotte Craig, director of the health department.

Craig has administered about two dozen tetanus boosters over the weekend, but expects the number to increase dramatically during the week.

Persons wishing to have a booster shot should consult their personal physician or they can visit the health department during regular office hours at 1121 Linden.