Heavy Rainfall Raises Flood Concerns in Missouri and Kentucky

Thousands of residents living in flood zones in the state of Kentucky packed up and headed for higher ground today. The National Weather Service is forecasting severe storms that will dump more heavy rain across the lower Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, further drenching the already rain-weary area from last week’s severe storms that spawned numerous tornadoes and washed away roadways. Some areas have received up to fifteen inches of rain already and the worst of the flooding may not be seen until mid-week.

In Poplar Bluff, Missouri which is located about an hour and a half’s drive southwest from St. Louis, officials say that the levee there is sure to break. One thousand residents of Poplar Bluff have already been evacuated from the southeast side of the city and many more are being warned to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. It is thought that if the levee breaks that it will only take 30 minutes for the southern portion of the town to be completely flooded.

Many of the 1,000 evacuees have found shelter at the Black River Coliseum, a 5,000 seat concert and meeting center that overlooks the black River and a park that is already flooded over. Others are staying with family members outside the flood zone while a few have been staying in a local church. Scores of schools have been forced to close across Missouri and Kentucky and an unknown number of roadways have been forced shut due to flooding.

Sandbagging efforts were put on hold in Poplar Bluff as it was quickly discovered that it was to no avail. There are simply too many places along the river to sandbag and if you sandbag one location, the water will just run to the next. If the levee does break, it will send a wall of muddy, murky water into the city and will likely force at least 7,000 people out of their homes.

Volunteers in Paducah, Kentucky which is located in the Ohio River valley are building flood walls and adding rocks to the top of earthern levees in an attempt to hold back water as the rain continues to pour out of the skies. Homeowners in the area are busy sandbagging with the hopes that it will be enough to protect their properties from flooding.