Flooding in Missouri, May 1 to 31, 1996

The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, and several smaller rivers in the area, flooded during much of May due to heavy spring rains. The heavy rain primarily fell from late April through early May. Rainfall for the month average from 1 to 7 inches above normal with measurable rain falling in the hydrologic service area 16 days during the month. Following are some of the crests reached along the major rivers during month. Most crests ranged from 3 to 7 feet over flood stage. Many of the rises in late April and ealry May were very rapid, considering the size of the rivers. On the Missouri River at Hermann, the river at one point rose 10 feet in about 24 hours.Meramec River: Flood Stage Crest Eureka 18 29.9 4/30 Valley Park 16 27.5 4/30 Middle Fabius River: Flood Stage Crest MOnticello 13 24.7 5/29Missouri River: Flood Stage Crest Jefferson City 23 28.8 5/30 Hermann 21 30.5 5/31 St. Charles 25 28.7 5/31Mississipi River Flood Stage Crest Hannibal 16 24.3 5/30 Louisiana 15 22.5 5/30 Clarksville 25 32.7 5/30 St. Louis 30 33.5 5/31 For the most part, damage was limited to agricultural lowlands. The buyout programs after the floods of 1993 and 1995 have proved successful. Many now abandoned sites flooded again, as they had done in previous years. Some highlights from areas affected:Clark County: Highway 61/136 was closed at Alexandria.Pike County, Louisiana MO: Two city streets had to be closed. Highway 79 also was closed on the south part of town.Pike County, Clarksville MO: About 70 inmates from a state correctional institution were brought in to sandbag. Much of the city park on the river flooded, as did Highway 79 north of town.Marion County, Hannibal MO: The city floodwall was closed minimizing damage to the downtown area. However areas on the south part of town, primarily along Bear Creek flooded. About 12 businesses suffered damage.Cole County, Jefferson City: Sandbagging was needed on West McCarty St. to keep water out of the State Health Dept. Lab basement. Some state employee parking lots were flooded, requiring the use of shuttle busses to get employees from other parking locations. Boone County, Easley, Hartsburg, and McBaine: The Katy Trail State Park was closed due to the flooding. The river crept into the yards of several homes in the river towns, but no major damage occurred. Some county roads had to be closed. St. Charles County: The Mississippi River caused some problems on the north side of the county. Highways 94, C and B had to be closed, which made access to Portage Des Sioux and West Alton difficult.