Flood-relief efforts shine

By Rob Mayer

For the residents of Southeast Missouri, the week of the flooding was one that will be vividly remembered. We experienced another event in a long series of weather-related emergencies. This time it was tremendous downpours and flooding that brought up to a foot of rain across portions of the area and delivered the worst flooding in decades.

Piedmont, Mo., in Wayne County was one of the most heavily affected areas. All of the counties in my district (Butler, Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Stoddard and Wayne) are among the 70 counties declared disaster areas by President Bush. In my home county, Stoddard County, we also experienced widespread flooding.

The flooding caused great hardships for many of us and for hundreds of thousands of other Missourians in our neighboring counties. Many were evacuated from their homes, lived in temporary shelters and were separated from their families before returning home to assess the damage and begin cleanup.

I had the opportunity to visit Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo., with Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and to talk with residents displaced by floodwater. Kinder and I also met with Poplar Bluff and Butler County officials and took a firsthand look at the levee breaches along the Black River. The scenes we surveyed were staggering and brought home the powerful and devastating effects of this phenomenal storm.

As I visited with residents, city and county officials, law enforcement personnel, people from local, state and federal agencies and with a large group of volunteers providing relief to our communities, I was struck by their astute attention, commitment and compassion in helping others during this life-threatening situation. I know I join countless others who want to thank them for their dedication and sacrifice to bringing much-needed relief during this difficult time.

I am confident that our communities are strong and that we will successfully work together as we turn our focus to cleanup and recovery from this huge flooding catastrophe.

Rob Mayer of Dexter, Mo., represents the 25th District in the Missouri Senate.