WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

The relentless flood waters of the rain-swollen Mississippi River continued to take their toll Saturday in Southeast Missouri from Ste. Genevieve to Commerce.

Forecasts call for a record crest at Cape Girardeau of 47 feet on July 20. The stage Saturday reached 42.7 feet.

In Cape Girardeau County, a county commission-ordered curfew in flooded areas went into effect at 6 p.m. Saturday. County officials said the action was taken to prevent looting and keep out joy riders.

U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., Saturday visited the flood-threatened Dutchtown area, where high water from the river-connected Diversion Channel has flooded acres of farm land and is now approaching homes.

Bond visited briefly with some of the many volunteers who were busy building a wall of sandbags along Highway 74 in an effort to hold back the rising flood waters and protect low-lying homes in the town of about 120 people.

The flood waters continued to rise higher on a stretch of Highway 74 at Dutchtown that's already been closed to traffic.

"I've fought it (flood waters) ever since I've been here," said Dutchtown resident Fred Propst, who has lived there for 41 years.

"This is an amazing show of volunteer and community spirit," commented Bond.

The senator said the flooding has damaged cities and farm land along both the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

"Jefferson City is a disaster area," said Bond. St. Joseph is also experiencing flooding problems.

"It really is a statewide disaster," said Bond, who has surveyed flood damage on both the Missouri and Mississippi rivers during the past few days.

Bond said federal relief is on the way for flood-ravaged Missouri counties. The federal disaster declaration came Saturday, and covers 49 flood-damaged counties, mainly on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and the city of St. Louis. Southeast Missouri counties include Cape Girardeau, Perry and Ste. Genevieve.

The disaster designation makes counties eligible for federal aid such as temporary housing assistance to affected residents, business owners and farmers.

In addition to Dutchtown, Cape County officials were keeping a close watch on the Allenville area Saturday. The town of about 150 people is also threatened by flood waters from the Diversion Channel.

"We're in good shape right now," said Allenville resident Phil Thompson.

He said the Mississippi River would have to crest at about 50 feet at Cape Girardeau before there would be any serious flooding of the homes.

"Once that river gets up there around 48 or 49 feet, you're going to see a bunch of levees popping, which will relieve the pressure on us," he said.

"As far as evacuating, some have left but most are going to stay here and fight it out.

"The big concern for us is one of a big rain here. We're going to keep a watch on that, and hopefully the good Lord will see to it that we don't get any heavy rains," he said.

Although the homes appear safe for now, Thompson said roads in and out of Allenville will be closed within 48 hours.

"There are a few inches of water standing on the road on both sides of town," he said Saturday.

Gene Huckstep, Cape County presiding commissioner, said that if necessary Allenville residents could be evacuated by train car over the Burlington Northern Railroad.

Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan plans to survey the flood damage along the Mississippi River by helicopter today. He is scheduled to visit Ste. Genevieve at 3 p.m.

Vice President Gore will get a first-hand look at flooding in the St. Louis area on Monday with House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., and other political leaders.

Nearly 1,100 National Guard members are on duty in flooded areas throughout the state. It's the Guard's third-largest callup for state emergency duty since it started keeping records in 1933.

In the historic river town of Ste. Genevieve, about 200 National Guard troops and countless volunteers continued to shore up earthen levees.

There is no floodwall at Ste. Genevieve like there is in Cape Girardeau. "We do not have a continuous levee," said Jean Rissover, a city volunteer. "Part of what we are doing is filling the gaps."

She said National Guard officials have indicated the next 48 hours will be critical.

"We are relying heavily on volunteers for sandbagging," said Rissover. "Last night, just at the north end, we had 150 people at one sandbag site."

By Saturday morning, the flood waters had topped 41 feet, 14 feet above flood stage. "In some places there is a foot of freeboard, and in some places less," she said.

The river is expected to crest at 45 feet at Ste. Genevieve, which would be higher than the big flood of 1973.

Rissover said the town has obtained 300 concrete highway barricades, which are being used in conjunction with sandbags and rock to raise the height of the levees.

The town is also using what Rissover calls "giant baggies," heavy plastic sheets. Sand is wrapped up in the 100-foot sheets and then taped, and covered on top with individual sandbags.

"It appears to be working," she said.

But a number of houses and businesses on the city's north end have been flooded.

About 150 to 170 households had been given evacuation orders. "We think they are all out at this point," she said.

"We don't have anything that is totally under. We have places where there is water," said Rissover. "We have a little water in the street in many places, but the major part of the town is remaining dry."

Protecting Ste. Genevieve's French colonial buildings, many of which date back to the late 18th century, has been a major concern. "My understanding is that as of right now they are all dry," Rissover said Saturday morning.

At this point, she said, Ste. Genevieve is holding its own. "We have kept up with it, not ahead of it, but we have kept up with it."

An earthen levee in Perry County was holding Saturday protecting about 28,000 acres of low-lying land along the river, including the Perryville airport, the Gilster-Mary Lee popcorn plant and the Sabreliner aircraft plant.

"The majority of people living down here in the bottoms have moved out or made preparations to move out, but there has been no call for an evacuation at this point," said Jack Lakenan, director of the county's emergency management agency.

"Right now, we are in relatively good shape. We don't have too much unprotected flood plain like Ste. Genevieve," he said.

Staff writer Jay Eastlick contributed information to this story.