AREA BRACES FOR RECORD-BREAKING CREST

Cape Girardeau police closed Big Bend Road early Tuesday, giving up the battle to keep the water off the roadway between Olive and First streets.

Barricades were set up at the intersection of Roberts Street and Big Bend Road, allowing only residents to enter.

The river rose to 46.7 feet Tuesday, more than 14 feet above flood stage. It is expected to crest Thursday at 47.7 feet, and remain at that level through Saturday.

Floodwaters invaded the intersection of Fourth and Main streets and was steadily approaching the rear of the Red Star Baptist Church Activity Center.

Although sandbagging activities in the adjoining parking lot of the center had all but stopped during the day Tuesday, the effort was rekindled Tuesday evening to, among other things, reinforce the sandbag wall at the rear and south side of the building.

There were two scares at Dutchtown Tuesday as volunteers and national guardsmen continued their vigil over two sandbag levees, one protecting the town from Hubble Creek and the other from water coming out of the Diversion Channel.

The first came around mid afternoon when a sandbag levee along Hubble Creek started to give way. Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said that the leak was taken care of in 15-20 minutes by about 20 guardsmen and volunteers.

Then, around 8 p.m., a thunderstorm with high winds moved through the area, causing concern about the possibility of heavy rains and the damage the wind could do to levees by causing waves. But with about 40 members of the National Guard on hand and other volunteers monitoring the situation, the storm moved on without serious consequences.

"Everybody seems to be working together pretty good at Dutchtown, but this is the tense time right now," said Huckstep. "There is a lot of pressure on those sand bags."

Ken MacNevin, public affairs officer for the Missouri National Guard, said Tuesday afternoon that Guard members would likely follow the crest down the river and be available for any emergencies that could arise. On Monday afternoon there were eight guardsmen in Commerce, 21 at Dutchtown, 25 at Kimmswick, 195 at Ste. Genevieve, and 284 in the Festus-Crystal City area.

If necessary, he said more troops would be moved in.

Late Tuesday afternoon a C-130 transport plane arrived at the Cape Girardeau Airport carrying several high-volume pumps from New Orleans that were scheduled to be taken to Ste. Genevieve. More pumps were being brought up by truck and would be used in other places, including in Cape County.

As with the Guard troops, MacNevin explained that as the water goes down equipment will be moved down the river where the situation is still critical.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Tuesday that it will be opening a disaster application center in Cape Girardeau, Friday through Monday, in the Centenary Methodist Church, at 315 N. Ellis.

Representatives from a variety of federal, state and volunteer agencies will be at the center to provide information on disaster aid programs and to help flood victims begin the application process. The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Officials from the State Emergency Management Agency urged flood victims to visit the center, even if they have previously registered for assistance.

FEMA and SEMA ask that flood victims not cross state lines looking for assistance.

City, state and federal officials are hosting a meeting Thursday to brief flood victims and others on the services, procedures and financial aid available to them in the wake of the flood.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the A.C. Brase Arena Building, and will feature information about available financial assistance, procedures required for utility re-connections, safety of drinking water, city inspections and other services.

All people affected by the flood are encouraged to attend.

For more information about vailable aid, call the disaster hotline at 1-800-853-3362.