Disasters cause cities to adapt Web sites

Hopefully by time this column is printed, the water is receding. The serial storms since Feb. 11 have been an exercise in coping for many.

The City of Cape Girardeau's Web site has become a crisis management tool.

As of Friday, www.cityofcapegirardeau.org offers a new feature. Visitors who click on "flooding information" will find a list of closed streets, shelter locations, flood recovery advice, river levels and other resource tools.

The page also offers links to the State Emergency Management Agency and Missouri departments of health and transportation.

Michelle Hahn, the city's public information coordinator, told me Saturday the site can be updated from a number of sources.

Noting that the rainy spring season has barely begun, she said the Web site will continue to be updated with flood-related resources.

She also emphasized -- as so many city and county officials have over the last week -- the dangers of driving over water-covered roads.

Tickets will be issued to anyone caught driving around barricades into flooded streets, she said.

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Over in Jackson, Mayor Barbara Lohr is telling people, "I can't believe that I am happy about having our city declared part of a disaster area -- but I am!"

She's referring to the ice storm disaster. Flood damage inspections are scheduled for this week.

City crews continue to chip away at the storm cleanup. This week, they'll be on Old Cape Road, between South Georgia Street and South Shawnee Boulevard; Kies Avenue, between East Adams Street and Old Cape Road; and East Independence Street, between North High Street and Greensferry Road. Visit www.jacksonmo.org to check out the list of cleared streets.

Disaster status means the city can get reimbursed for the $1.3 million in ice storm damage. FEMA will pay 75 percent of approved expenses; the state will pay 10 percent and the city pays 15 percent. At a workshop Thursday in Marble Hill, Mo., SEMA planner Patrick Duncan told city and county officials that volunteers can help local governments reduce the cash value of their 15 percent portion.

If the city documents volunteers donating their time and/or materials to clean up ice storm debris, FEMA will assign a dollar value to the work and deduct it from the city's share.

With that in mind. the last volunteer cleanup day for City Park starts at 9 a.m. Saturday. Bring your own gloves, tools and rain gear; wear sturdy shoes. City workers are volunteering their time and chain saw skills.

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The renovation of Cape Girardeau Regional Airport's fixed base operation lobby and offices will wrap up soon. Now, the used furniture is looking shabby. The city's airport advisory board is hoping to garner donations for replacements.

"Anything we are unable to replace, we will continue to use," advisory board chairman Gerry Keene wrote in an e-mail, responding to questions about the need.

For those arriving by private or chartered aircraft, the airport offers a first impression of Cape Girardeau, he said.

"The better first impression they get of Cape, the more likely they are to continue or to start doing business here," he said, adding that those decisions have a direct line to the city's tax base. "So you can see why everyone in Cape benefits from making a positive first and lasting impression on our visitors."

He said after all the renovations are done, the airport board hopes to host an open house. For donation details, call 334-6230.

Questions, suggestions or tips for Lost on Main Street? E-mail pmcnichol@semissourian.com or call 335-6611, extension 127.