Water levels begin to fall on Mississippi

ST. LOUIS, July 2 (UPI) -- Mississippi River waters have finally begun to recede with the National Weather Service expecting a fall below flood stage in St. Louis by early next week.

In the Northern Missouri counties of Pike and Lincoln the river will remain high until July 14. But flooding in the hard-hit towns of Clarksville, Winfield and Foley should end this week with the Army Corps of Engineers saying the river may drop enough to allow the reopening of locks and dams, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday.

Some flood victims are even beginning to return to their homes.

"People that can are getting back to their homes and are already starting to clean up," Kelly Hardcastle, emergency director for Lincoln County, told the newspaper.