CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., May 14 (UPI) -- Water reached knee-deep in the meeting room at City Hall and floodwaters from the Mississippi River closed schools.
The Mississippi rose to 41.9 feet on Monday and was expected to crest at 46 feet Sunday, some 14 feet above flood stage.
Rain from powerful weekend storms covered roads Tuesday as residents worked to clean up from moderate flooding. A 21-year-old man drowned early Monday when his pickup skidded off a water-covered road and fell into a flooded ravine. More than 5 inches of rain sent the Whitewater River, Crooked Creek and local streams over their banks.
"We have taken all the documents out of city hall, filing cabinets, computer equipment," public works director Chuck Kernan told the Southeast Missourian.
Floodgates were closed to protect downtown Canton and Hannibal, Mo., Sunday and will remain in place until the water level recedes below 17 feet. The river was cresting at near 22.8 feet in Hannibal Tuesday, more than 6 feet above flood stage. The National Weather Service expected a crest of 22.3 feet in Quincy, Ill.
High water also canceled ferry trips across the Illinois River at Grafton. The river was forecast to crest at 25 feet in Peoria on Saturday.
Despite sunny skies, Canton residents worried about more rain predicted for Thursday after a cloudburst of more than half a foot in 24 hours left the town a virtual island.
The Mississippi was expected to reach 39 feet, or 9 feet above flood stage at St. Louis, where water lapped at the foot of the Gateway Arch. By comparison, the river crested nearly 20 feet above flood stage during the Great Flood of 1993.
The President Casino at Leclede's Landing will remain closed until the river drops below 34 feet.
Authorities said two teenagers got a scare but managed to get to back to shore after their small boat capsized Monday on the swollen Big River.
