Widespread flooding covers Stoddard County

McKenna Landers photo This truck succumbed to the rain in the 600 block of West Bain St. Tuesday afternoon when the rain was falling at its hardest. The driver was not injured in the accident.

Widespread flooding throughout Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois is taking its toll on Stoddard County and other neighboring counties as approximately 10 inches of rain fell across the region yesterday and last night.

Two deaths have been reported so far, one in Bollinger County and one in Wayne County near Ellsinore.

According to a release from the State Emergency Management Agency, Stoddard County Emergency Manager John Prance states that workers have sandbagged a business in Puxico and additional bags have been sent to that area.

Prance also reported concern over the scheduled draining of Wappapello Lake. Due to the increased amount of precipitation received over the past 24 hours, the predicted crest for Wappapello Lake has been revised. The new predicted crest with MINIMAL additional rain is expected to reach 388 feet relative to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum on Saturday, March 22, 2008.

This lake level is approximately 7 feet below the emergency spillway elevation. The Corps of Engineers plans to increase the present discharge from 6,500 cubic feet per second (CFS) to 8,000 CFS today and possibly discharge 10,000 CFS by the end of this unusual rain event.

The Corps warns travelers in the area to be extremely careful and avoid low lying areas that are prone to flash flooding.

Blunt's office is also reporting 'continuous water rescues throughout southern Missouri.'

The governor and public safety officials also offered tips to keep Missouri motorists safe.

"In any emergency our first concern is the safety of Missourians and our public safety officials are doing everything they can to assist with water rescues and evacuations," Gov. Blunt said.

Severe weather and flash flooding resulted in several hundred state employees and swift water rescue experts conducting almost

continuous water rescues in Reynolds, Wayne, Iron, Carter, Shannon,

Bollinger and Cape Girardeau Counties. The Missouri Department of

Transportation estimates that more than 190 state routes and an unknown

number of county roads are closed because of flash flooding.

Wednesday Gov. Blunt signed executive orders activating state agency resources and the Missouri National Guard to assist local first responders in their emergency protective actions for the flooding in southern Missouri and anticipated flooding along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers later this week.

There are over 50 Department of Conservation employees and boats, more than 20 Missouri State Water Patrol officers and boats conducting continuous water rescues. The State Fire Marshal activated more than 50 swift water rescue experts from Regions C and G and 30 search and rescue experts from Missouri Task Force 1 in Boone County to the affected areas. Currently, Missouri State Highway Patrol Troopers in Troops E and G are responding to numerous calls for assistance from local agencies.

"I commend our first responders who are risking their lives to rescue citizens who are caught in the flooded areas. I understand that this is part of their job, however it is important that citizens avoid areas prone to flash flooding so rescuers are not put in unnecessary dangerous situations," said Director of Public Safety Mark James.

"Motorists should plan their trips carefully especially in areas, which are or could be affected by high water. Do not go around barricades. It takes less than 6 inches of rapidly running water to sweep a vehicle off the road into a ditch or down stream," said James.

Motorists are urged to check with the Missouri Department of Transportation's updated road conditions Internet site: www.modot.mo.gov

then click on the Travel Information on the right side menu.

"Motorists are also encouraged to drive defensively especially at night when it is harder to see rising water levels or water over a road and to heed state, county or local barricades set up to block roads because of flooding conditions," Missouri State Highway Patrol Superintendent James Keathley said.

Tips to Keep Drivers Safe

* A flood watch means there has been enough rainfall to cause a

flood.

* A flood warning means there will be flooding.

* A flash flood poses a major threat to motorists because the

water can rise quickly without warning. At night, motorists should

avoid low-water crossings during and following rainstorms.

Points to Remember About Flooding

* Six inches of fast moving water can carry a car away.

* If your car stalls in water, abandon your car immediately BUT be

careful you don't accidentally step into a flooded ditch along the road.

* There is no guarantee you will be able to drive across the road.

Water over the road might look like only a foot or two; however it might

be more like five or six feet deep.

* Do not ignore barricades - your life, the lives of your

passengers or your family depends on you obeying the closed road signs.

---

For more information, please contact the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake by calling (573) 222-8562. For recorded lake information anytime, call the Recreation Hotline at (573) 222-8139 or toll-free at 1-877-LAKE INFO.

---

cnoles@dailystatesman.com