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Flooding Forces Evacuations and Vigilance

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Brad Palmer, WSIU Radio
Signs warn drivers of water covering a portion of Route 3 near McClure and East Cape Girardeau in Alexander County.

Residents of a mobile home park in Alexander County have been evacuated due to the high level of the Mississippi River.

An order was issued Monday night in East Cape Girardeau. Electricity was being cut off Tuesday. Members of the Illinois National Guard are building sandbag barriers in the area.
It's unclear how many people are affected.

Anyone displaced by the flooding who needs assistance or shelter can go to Spark Ministries (the old McClure grade school) located at Route 3 and Grapevine Trail in McClure.

The National Weather Service says the Mississippi River crested near 46.3 feet at Cape Girardeau late Monday.

The flooding situation remains stable for the most part in Jackson County.

The Grand Tower Levee District has five pumps running on the Big Muddy Levee. Three more pumps are being prepared.

Degonia Township and the Jackson County Highway Department have completed the rock-raising project on Little Levee Road allowing the water to stabilize the sand boils.

No levee issues have been reported this morning from Grand Tower Levee District, City of Grand Tower or the Degonia-Fountain Bluff Levee District.

Officials in Union County have issued a flood preparedness advisory. They say residents living in flood-prone areas need to stay informed of flooding updates and conditions.

The Cairo Fire Department says starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, levee roads and approaches to the levee roads in and around Cairo will be closed to all traffic except for authorized personnel.

This includes motor vehicles, farm equipment, ATV's and UTV's.

This is being done as a precautionary measure to prevent unnecessary vibration and weight on the levee system due to high water levels.

The National Weather Service says the Ohio River at Cairo will rise to 49 feet by Thursday morning, and then begin falling. At 50 feet, the first flood gate is closed.

 

As a news producer and news anchor on All Things Considered, Brad provides the listeners with a recap of the day's top local and state news as well as breaking news at any given time. Contact WSIU Radio at 618-453-6101 or email wsiunews@wsiu.org
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