Flood perception worse than reality in Hannibal, Mo.

HANNIBAL, Mo. -- For a town that relies on tourism, perceptions of flooding can be almost as bad as the real thing.

Hannibal is finding that out again, as businesses and attractions are getting frantic calls from tourists who apparently believe Mark Twain's hometown is under water.

The Mississippi River is a few feet above flood stage, and some low-lying streets are flooded.

But downtown is protected by a flood levee. The Twain sites are open and safe.

Not everyone understands that. A tour group recently pulled a reservation for 20 hotel rooms after hearing media reports of high water.

Hannibal's flood levee was completed just months before the flood of 1993. But that year, media reports of flooding kept many tourists away.

This year, one business, Bubba's restaurant, has closed temporarily, but it's on the river side of the levee. The Mark Twain Riverboat still is taking cruises.

Convention and Visitors Bureau director Beau Hicks doesn't even like to discuss flooding, believing potential visitors can get the wrong impression when newspaper photos or TV videos show flooded spots, even if most of the community is high and dry.

"I don't want to put it in people's minds more than it is," he said.

Allison Dolak was among six adults chaperoning 31 students on a visit from Immanuel Lutheran School in Wentzville, Mo. She was thankful the high water hasn't caused problems in Hannibal's historic district.

"The kids were really looking forward to it," she said.

Janet Klem of Cincinnati was in town with a friend. She's used to flooding along the Ohio River.

"We weren't going to change our plans just because the river was high," Klem said.