FLOOD BUYOUTS PAY BIG DIVIDENDS

For the most part, the Cape Girardeau area has avoided any serious problems this year related to flooding by the Mississippi River. This is in spite of the fact that the river has been above flood stage for the better part of two months.

River flooding has become almost an annual occurrence in Cape Girardeau in recent years. The river has exceeded flood levels in 17 of the past 20 years. The severe flooding in 1993 and 1995 was among the worst in the city's history.

In addition to the high cost of flood damage to homes, businesses, streets, highways and cropland, the worst of the floods have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in emergency expenses such as sandbagging and other efforts to keep some areas dry.

In recent years, the city has spend less than $3 million dollars to alleviate some of these annual problems with flooding and the related costs of protection and cleanup. Houses in flood-prone areas have been purchased and razed using federal and state grants. Based on this year's experience, it was money well spent.

With the river at several feet above flood stage most of the time since mid-April, there have been no homes affected and, subsequently, no big expense related to high water.

Over the years, Cape Girardeau has managed to spend money to lessen the impact of flooding, resulting in savings many times over the cost of such disaster preparedness.

Other areas have been equally fortunate. Ste. Genevieve is protected by a new levee. Flood-prone homes in Commerce has been relocated. Dutchtown residents are looking forward to levee protection that would come from a project currently being planned.

All in all, taking steps in advance -- and often at considerable expense -- appears to be paying off huge dividends by eliminating or reducing the losses due to future floods.