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| Flooding eases in St. Louis; homes farther south still threatened | Flooding eases in St. Louis; homes farther south still threatened |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| ST. LOUIS — The worst of the dangerous, deadly winter flood is over in the St. Louis area, leaving residents of several water-logged communities to spend the first day of 2016 assessing damage, cleaning up and figuring out how to bounce back — or in some cases, where to live. | ST. LOUIS — The worst of the dangerous, deadly winter flood is over in the St. Louis area, leaving residents of several water-logged communities to spend the first day of 2016 assessing damage, cleaning up and figuring out how to bounce back — or in some cases, where to live. |
| Farther south, record and near-record crest predictions of the Mississippi River and levee breaks threatened homes in rural southern Missouri and Illinois. Two more levees succumbed Friday, bringing to at least 11 the number of levee failures. | Farther south, record and near-record crest predictions of the Mississippi River and levee breaks threatened homes in rural southern Missouri and Illinois. Two more levees succumbed Friday, bringing to at least 11 the number of levee failures. |
| The flood, fueled by more than 10 inches of rain over a three-day period that began last weekend, is blamed for 22 deaths. Searchers were still looking for five people: two teenagers in Illinois, two men in Missouri and a country music singer in Oklahoma. | The flood, fueled by more than 10 inches of rain over a three-day period that began last weekend, is blamed for 22 deaths. Searchers were still looking for five people: two teenagers in Illinois, two men in Missouri and a country music singer in Oklahoma. |
| On Friday, water from the Mississippi, Meramec and Missouri rivers was largely receding in the St. Louis area. Two major highways — Interstate 44 and Interstate 55 — reopened south of St. Louis, meaning that commuters who return to work next week won’t have hours-long detours. Some evacuees were allowed to return home. | |
| But in the far southwestern tip of Illinois, the 500 or so people living behind the Len Small levee, which protects the hamlets of Olive Branch, Hodges Park, Unity and rural homes, were urged to move to higher ground after the Mississippi began pouring over the levee. | But in the far southwestern tip of Illinois, the 500 or so people living behind the Len Small levee, which protects the hamlets of Olive Branch, Hodges Park, Unity and rural homes, were urged to move to higher ground after the Mississippi began pouring over the levee. |
| Alexander County Board Chairman Chalen Tatum said sandbagging efforts were cut off because it was too dangerous for the volunteers. Far more water is to come before the Sunday crest. | Alexander County Board Chairman Chalen Tatum said sandbagging efforts were cut off because it was too dangerous for the volunteers. Far more water is to come before the Sunday crest. |
| “It’s going to get ugly,” he said. | “It’s going to get ugly,” he said. |
| In St. Mary, a town of about 360 residents 50 miles south of St. Louis, neighbors and volunteers placed sandbags around homes after a small agricultural levee broke. The Mississippi River was expected to crest there Saturday at about 3½ feet below the 1993 record. | In St. Mary, a town of about 360 residents 50 miles south of St. Louis, neighbors and volunteers placed sandbags around homes after a small agricultural levee broke. The Mississippi River was expected to crest there Saturday at about 3½ feet below the 1993 record. |
| The main culprit in the St. Louis region was the relatively small Mississippi tributary, the Meramec River. It had bombarded communities in the far southwestern reaches of the St. Louis suburbs during the week. By Friday, it was relenting, but not before some points topped the 1993 record by 4 feet. | The main culprit in the St. Louis region was the relatively small Mississippi tributary, the Meramec River. It had bombarded communities in the far southwestern reaches of the St. Louis suburbs during the week. By Friday, it was relenting, but not before some points topped the 1993 record by 4 feet. |
| Two wastewater treatment plants were so damaged by the floodwaters that raw sewage spewed into the river. A water plant closed at High Ridge. | Two wastewater treatment plants were so damaged by the floodwaters that raw sewage spewed into the river. A water plant closed at High Ridge. |
| Hundreds of people were evacuated in Pacific, Eureka, Valley Park and Arnold, and many of their homes took in water. | Hundreds of people were evacuated in Pacific, Eureka, Valley Park and Arnold, and many of their homes took in water. |
| In West Alton, Mo., a Mississippi River town that sits near the convergence with the also-elevated Missouri River just north of St. Louis, it was too early for evacuees to return because floodwaters continued to pour over the overwhelmed levee, Mayor Willie Richter said. He estimated that about three-quarters of the homes were damaged. | In West Alton, Mo., a Mississippi River town that sits near the convergence with the also-elevated Missouri River just north of St. Louis, it was too early for evacuees to return because floodwaters continued to pour over the overwhelmed levee, Mayor Willie Richter said. He estimated that about three-quarters of the homes were damaged. |
| Nearly 1,000 residents left West Alton after the 1993 flood. Richter said some of the remaining 500 or so may leave this time. Richter, 46, said he’s staying put in the same house where he grew up. He plans to raise the home off the ground a bit. | Nearly 1,000 residents left West Alton after the 1993 flood. Richter said some of the remaining 500 or so may leave this time. Richter, 46, said he’s staying put in the same house where he grew up. He plans to raise the home off the ground a bit. |
| “It’s our family home, so it’s hard to think about leaving,” Richter said. | “It’s our family home, so it’s hard to think about leaving,” Richter said. |
| In southeast Missouri, the fast-rising Mississippi damaged about two dozen homes in Cape Girardeau and threatened a power substation, though the community of nearly 40,000 residents is mostly protected by a flood wall. The crest prediction at Cape Girardeau, Mo., expected Sunday, was upgraded to a foot and a half above the 1993 record. | In southeast Missouri, the fast-rising Mississippi damaged about two dozen homes in Cape Girardeau and threatened a power substation, though the community of nearly 40,000 residents is mostly protected by a flood wall. The crest prediction at Cape Girardeau, Mo., expected Sunday, was upgraded to a foot and a half above the 1993 record. |
| In nearby Allenville, access into the often-flooded town was cut off by high water. Most of the four dozen residents stayed anyway, using boats to get around. | In nearby Allenville, access into the often-flooded town was cut off by high water. Most of the four dozen residents stayed anyway, using boats to get around. |
| “They are used to being isolated and cut off, but with this record height, we’re confident some homes will get wet,” Cape Girardeau County emergency management director Richard Knaup said. “We’re just not sure how many.” | “They are used to being isolated and cut off, but with this record height, we’re confident some homes will get wet,” Cape Girardeau County emergency management director Richard Knaup said. “We’re just not sure how many.” |
| — Associated Press | — Associated Press |
| Associated Press journalist Fritz Faerber in Arnold, Mo., contributed to this report. | Associated Press journalist Fritz Faerber in Arnold, Mo., contributed to this report. |