FLOOD LESSONS

As expected, spring in Southeast Missouri has brought lots of rain. And, if the experience of recent years is a good gauge, flooding also has become a seasonal problem. Low-lying areas along the Mississippi River and other rivers and creeks already have been inundated. Floodgates in Cape Girardeau already have been closed once.

What used to occur only during the so-called wet years has become a regular event. Weather patterns are part of the regular flooding, but so are manmade efforts to control the mighty Mississippi. As more and more levees have been built to protect cities and farmland, the river has little choice but to rise whenever it rains a lot. Last week's rapid fluctuations in the river were akin to flash floods in other areas affected by heavy downpours.

A few months ago several states along the Mississippi River agreed to a compact that would have acknowledge the upper hand of nature in events like flooding. Instead of spending billions more dollars to make the river obedient, the compact called for allowing sparsely populated areas to flood. However, the compact fell apart after state negotiators began to get pressure from farm groups and levee districts.

Taming flood-prone streams has proven over and over to be a virtually impossible task. There are other efforts, though, that seem to be working:

-- Flood buyouts have dramatically decreased the cost of flood aftermaths. As more and more homeowners have taken the buyouts, there are fewer casualties and fewer claims for disaster assistance. Although many residents of flood-prone areas have decided to move to higher ground, there are still a large number of folks who, for one reason or another, intend to take their chances. For many of those who choose to stay, there are memories, family history and a belief that floods aren't likely to occur every year. Regardless of the reasons, their choice to remain in harm's way is theirs to make. But they shouldn't expect the government to bail them out, figuratively or literally, when the next flood occurs.

-- Flood-protection systems, such as Cape Girardeau's floodwall and the new levee at Ste. Genevieve, appear to provide good cost benefits. In populated areas where homes, businesses, churches and other structures are concentrated, it seems far preferable to provide protection rather than buyouts or handouts.

-- Flood-control projects, such as the multimillion-dollar system involving Walker Creek and Cape LaCroix Creek in Cape Girardeau, appear to do what was promised: keep flash floods away from businesses and homes. Even though the project isn't completed, runoff from heavy rains this year have been contained in newly constructed channels that quickly move the water through built-up areas.

The belief that a way can always be found to outmaneuver floods, however, has to be balanced against the certainty that high water has a way of going wherever it wants. With the pattern that has become all too familiar since the Flood of 1993, this lesson is beginning to sink in.