Days of torrential downpours saw more than 10 inches of rain pushed into the Mississippi and tributary rivers starting on Christmas Day.
Levels in the river were expected to begin receding in Illinois and Missouri on Monday, with hundreds of families choosing to remain in their homes despite warnings.
Record or near-record river levels have threatened levees in southern Illinois, where nine people died and a dozen counties were declared disaster areas, according to Illinois Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Patti Thompson.
The other victims were killed in flooding in Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Significant flooding is expected later this week further downstream in Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.
The river is expected to peak on Thursday in Memphis, Tennessee, according to the National Weather Service.
It is predicted to reach major flood stage between Arkansas City, Arkansas, and Natchez, Mississippi.
Further heavy rain is also expected later in the week, which could spark fresh flooding.
On Saturday, President Barack Obama signed a federal emergency declaration for Missouri, allowing federal aid to be used to bolster state and local efforts.
In St Louis, two sewage treatment plants were so badly damaged by the floodwaters that raw sewage was forced into the river.
Hundreds of people were evacuated in the Missouri towns of Pacific, Eureka, Valley Park and Arnold.
The Amtrak train service between St Louis and Kansas City was restored on Sunday, four days after high waters reached the tracks in some locations.
No comments:
Post a Comment