'Major' flood brings annoyance, not disaster

Last week, the Mighty Mississippi crested at 43 feet.

That is considered "major stage" flooding.

But it doesn't feel that way much anymore.

Thanks to many flood control and abatement steps, a flood event that in the past would have crippled Cape Girardeau now offers inconveniences rather than disaster.

The major complaints from flooding in 2015 have to do with keeping roadways open.

In Perry County, many county roads, which are very sparsely populated, were closed. Closer to the city, Highway 177 has closed because of rising backwaters. This is a relatively well-traveled road, which requires a 10-minute detour for those coming in from the north of Cape Girardeau, or those traveling to work at Procter & Gamble. As a Missouri Department of Transportation official explained in a recent story written by Erin Ragan, raising the road isn't as simple as just raising the road. When the road is raised, the water would be pushed elsewhere, so much study and evaluation would need to be done before making the highway more flood resistant.

Some river-related businesses, such as those at the SEMO Port, have to adjust or shut down due to the high water. And, of course, the farmland in the flood zone is inundated. Those who farm and work on the river have come to expect setbacks and delays.

For the public, the inconvenience of transportation pales in comparison to the drama that floods such as last week's once created.

Take the downtown floodwall, for instance. A 1943 photo recently shared on the Southeast Missourian's new history Facebook page -- SEMOHistory -- shows a flooded downtown at 42.4 feet, lower than last week's flood.

Other areas in Cape Girardeau were once much more flood-prone as well. Several homes in the Red Star district would be in jeopardy, with sandbagging teams needed to protect property. Over the years, as is the case in many areas, those homes were bought out as part of a flood protection program. The same measures have reduced flooding effects in tiny villages in eastern Perry County and in areas of Scott County, including Commerce.

The investments in flood protection are certainly paying off in Cape Girardeau. While many of us are inconvenienced by the rising floodwater in terms of travel, we no longer face the devastating effects here. Even Dutchtown, a punching bag for the floods over the years, is nearing a complete buyout.

Disaster only strikes when levees fail or are intentionally breached.

On Friday, a new crest was predicted for this week at 44 feet. Here's hoping the flood won't linger and reach truly disastrous levels.