Flash Flooding in Cape Girardeau

May 15, 2011

Major flooding occurred along Cape LaCroix Creek in the Town Plaza area of Cape Girardeau after more than six inches of rain fell on May 15, 1986.

Southeast Missourian archive

Floodwaters remain on Good Hope Street east of Kingshighway on May 16, 1986. (Southeast Missourian)

Cleanup in the Town Plaza on May 16, 1986 the day after major flash flooding. (Southeast Missourian)

Receding floodwaters left one car on another near Plaza Way off William Street on May 16, 1986. (Southeast Missourian)

Gov. John Ashcroft, center, arrived in Cape Girardeau May 16, 1986 to survey the flood damage. Automobile dealer Joe Coad, left, shows Ashcroft and Mayor Gene Rhodes the damage to his business. (Southeast Missourian)

Flood-damaged cars at Coad Chevrolet following the flash flooding of May 15, 1986. (Southeast Missourian)

Traffic on Broadway, undated.

Traffic on Broadway in 1983.

May 3, 1983 Flooding on Broadway.

July 31, 1987 Passengers in this car had to get out and push after the driver attempted to drive through the flooded intersection at Independence and West End Boulevard late Thursday afternoon. The thunderstorm, one of a series of storms that have rumbled over the city during the past week, deposited heavy rains causing widespread intersection flooding. (Southeast Missourian)

June 13, 1989 As this sign at the softball fields in Arena Park indicates, softball games were rained out Monday after Cape LaCroix Creek lefts its banks and flooded the ball fields. A total of 1.23 inches of rain fell Monday, most of it during a downpour between 11:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. The total rain for June to date is 4.93 inches, which is above average for the month. (Southeast Missourian)

Nov. 20, 1991 A young cyclist hesitates before walking his bicycle through the 1 1/2 feet of water at Independence and West End Boulevard Tuesday afternoon. A storm dumped over 5 1/2 inches of rain on the city Tuesday causing flooding in many intersections and low areas, stalled automobiles and traffic delays. (Southeast Missourian)

Sears vehicles are surrounded by floodwaters in the Town Plaza on May 16, 1986. (Southeast Missourian)

Nov. 20, 1991 Motorists cautiously drive through water over Broadway near Caruthers Avenue Tuesday afternoon during a rainstorm that flooded many intersections and stalled automobiles that were driven too fast for conditions. (Southeast Missourian, Fred Lynch)

This photo shows the morning after a 6-inch rain in Town Plaza on May 16, 1986. (Southeast Missourian)

Debris from a miniature golf course came to rest near Kingshighway and William Street after flash flooding May 15, 1986 in the Town Plaza area. (Southeast Missourian)

Floodwaters remained on Independence street near Kingshighway on May 16, 1986. (Southeast Missourian archive)

Floodwaters remained along William Street across from Town Plaza on May 16, 1986. (Southeast Missourian)

People get to work by boat on May 16, 1986 as floodwaters still cover Kingshighway. (Southeast Missourian)

Traveling on Kingshighway was slow for this truck on May 16, 1986. (Southeast Missourian)

Town Plaza cleanup on May 16, 1986 the day after after major flash flooding. (Southeast Missourian)

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Major flooding occurred along Cape LaCroix Creek in the Town Plaza area of Cape Girardeau after more than six inches of rain fell on May 15, 1986.

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