Visitors to the Gateway Arch on Father's Day watched the rising waters covering the riverfront and Leonor K. Sullivan drive. The flood gates that give access to Lenore K. Sullivan Boulevard are closed. The Mississippi River crested at 37.3 feet (flood level is 30 feet) on June 20.
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Volunteers Are Needed to Sandbag
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), June 18, 2008 - Volunteers to sandbag are needed in the areas below, please be sure to contact 2-1-1 or 800-427-4626 before going to these areas to ensure they have not been evacuated/are safe/still need volunteers.
Donations and shelters are also listed. To find out about where donations are needed, please contact 2-1-1 or 800-427-4626.
General guidelines for sandbagging volunteers: Bring sunscreen, work gloves and sturdy shoes. Bring a shovel if possible. All youth under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian or parent.
CLARKSVILLE (Pike County, MO)
Sandbaggers needed at the Clarksville City Hall., 111 Howard Street. Contact Clarksville City Hall at 1-573-242-3336 Directions: Take hwy 79 to and get off at Howard Street
CANTON 63435 (Lewis County, MO)
Many more volunteers are still needed. AmeriCorps has set up a Volunteer Reception Center at 516 Lewis Road. (voluntary evacuation is also in place, imperative to call 2-1-1 or 800-427-4626 before going to help sandbag)
LAGRANGE (Lewis County, MO)
Volunteers should report to the Lagrange City Hall, 2nd & Washington Sts, for an assignment.
QUINCY (Adams County, IL)
Volunteers should report to the Oakley-Lindsay Center at 300 Civic Center Plaza in downtown Quincy. There are additional tasks for volunteers in addition to sandbagging
WARSAW (Hancock County, IL)
North of Quincy, is also seeking help with sand-bagging. Report to City Hall, 210 North 4th. Please call City Hall to confirm need as you begin to travel there 217-256-3214.
WINFIELD (Lincoln County, MO)
Citizens interested in filling sandbags need to check-in at the Command Center at the Winfield High School, 3920 East Highway 47 Winfield Missouri. After pulling into the drive park to the right in the gravel area, wear appropriate clothing, shovels, sunblock. Sandbagging efforts are running 24 hours a day until further notice. For further information, call 636-566-8406.
DONATIONS:
Water and beverages are still needed.
Lincoln County authorities appealed for donations of nonperishable food and bottled water for weary volunteers and emergency officials. Donations may be delivered to the Winfield Ambulance Base at 11 Highland Drive during normal business hours between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.
The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency is seeking dump trucks and dump truck drivers to help transport sand near Louisiana, MO.
SHELTERS:
CANTON: There is a shelter open at Culver Stockton College. If people need shelter, they should call the American Red Cross at 573-248-9079. If needed, the shelter will open tonight. Pet sheltering is available for those evacuating. It will be provided by the Canton Humane Clinic, with the support of the Humane Society. There is also a special needs shelter set up at a local nursing home.
CLARKSVILLE: Shelter at the Grace Episcopal Church, 105 South 3rd Street, 63336 573-242-3763 (run by the American Red Cross.)
LOUISIANA: Shelter opened at the Elks Lodge, 120 North 5th Street, Louisiana 63353 (run by the American Red Cross.)
KAHOKA: Kahoka Middle School, 427 West Chestnut, Kahoka 63445 660-727-3319
WINFIELD: Winfield High School, 3920 East Highway 47. (run by the American Red Cross, (314) 516.2800.)
PALS will provide kenneling for pets during the evacuation.
ST. CHARLES COUNTY: shelter opening by 6 PM at First Methodist Church, 801 First Capital Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301. Operated by the American Red Cross.
CALHOUN COUNTY, HARDIN, ILLINOIS: There is another shelter opened by the American Red Cross at the Calhoun High School in Hardin, IL; (618) 576-2229.
In Missouri those who need assistance with the recent flooding can dial 2-1-1 from a land line 24 hours a day, seven days a week to find resources for help. Those calling from a cell phone or Illinois can call 800-427-4626. For those interested in volunteering or donating resources such as water please call 2-1-1 or 800-427-4626 or visit online at www2.stl.unitedway.org/emergencyvolunteer.
Rising Water Impacts St. Louis Region
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), June 15, 2008 - The Mississippi River, which has approached or exceeded historic levels in Iowa, is continuing to send a growing swell of water southward.
"As we continue to monitor river levels, Missourians need to know that our state is prepared with resources and equipment to address flooding concerns," Lt. Governor Peter Kinder said. "I encourage communities and Missouri families to take necessary steps to minimize potential flood damage and ensure their safety."
Hundreds of volunteers are working long hours to help small towns like Clarksville, Grafton and Alton, north of St. Louis, with sandbagging efforts to save their communities. The Mississippi is expected to crest in Hannibal at 31.5 (flood level is 16 feet) on June 20; in Grafton at 31 feet (flood level is 18) on June 22; in St. Louis at 39 feet (flood level is 30 feet) on June 23; in Cape Girardeau at 44.5 feet (flood level is 32 feet) on June 24.
In St. Louis, hundreds of people are visiting the Arch to watch the rising waters cover the riverfront and Lenore K. Sullivan Boulevard. High water has forced the closing of several attractions including the President Casino on the Admiral, cruises on the 19th century replica steamboats Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher, the helicoptor tours and bike rentals.
"We've been monitoring the river levels closely following the recent heavy rains both in our area and upstream on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers," said Chris Strobbe, President Casino General Manager. "With more rain and flooding expected upstream in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, we once again felt it was best for the safety of our guests and our employees to temporarily suspend our operations until the flood waters recede."
Rising waters may impact the Fourth of July celebrations on the riverfront. Missy Slay, executive Director at Fair Saint Louis/Celebrate St. Louis, said they are monitoring the river closely with the US Army Corps of Engineers and that at this time, all entertainment events are still scheduled to happen.
The US Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis District has deployed flood fight teams to levee districts north of St. Louis. Area engineers are now shifting their focus southward to help regions south of the city to prepare to fend off high waters as the move down the Mississippi River past St. Louis.
As of June 13, the St. Louis District has issued 305,500 sand bags and 105 rolls of sheet plastic to local emergency operations offices to be ready to be used in flood fighting efforts.
The Corps is urging people who live or travel near the rivers to continue to monitor water levels and in particular, not to drive into water covered roads. They should turn back and take longer routes if necessary.
There are no short cuts to safety. Although the rising rivers are also attracting a lot of attention, they are treacherous in their current and predicted states. Officials are also urging people not to wade, swim or boat in rising waters.
FDA Adds Missouri to the "Safe" Tomatoes List
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), June 15, 2008 - Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Katie Smith has announced that Missouri grown tomatoes has been placed on the Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) "safe to eat" list this evening. Local Missouri farmers have not been adversely affected by the recent outbreak of salmonella in raw red tomatoes that has caused some restaurants and grocery stores to pull tomatoes from their menus and shelves in recent days.
"Missouri consumers can continue to enjoy fresh tomatoes at local farmers' markets and fresh pick locations across the state," said Director Smith. "Some stores across Missouri are voluntarily removing tomatoes from certain sources and locations to be safe. Consumers who are unsure of where the tomatoes have come from should contact the retail location for the point of origin."
According to FDA, consumers who are unsure of where the tomatoes are from that they have in their home are encouraged to contact the store or place of purchase for that information. FDA also recommends if consumers are unable to determine the source of the tomatoes, they should not be eaten. Restaurants, grocery stores and food service operators have been advised by FDA not to offer the sale of service raw red plum, Roma or red tomatoes and products made from these types of tomatoes unless they are from one of the states listed on the FDA Web site as "not been associated with the outbreak."
All 4-Year Missouri
Public Colleges to Offer MOST Scholarships
JEFFERSON CITY, (SLFP.com), June 15, 2008 - The MOST scholarships are now available for students who have invested in the MOST (Missouri Saving for Tuition) 529 College Savings Program.
"This is great news for Missouri families. We've been working hard to help make the opportunity for every child in this state to get to college, and this is more great help. These scholarships reward Missouri families who save for college, and that's good for students, parents, and our state," said State Treasurer Sarah Steelman.
Treasurer Steelman worked with the schools to make the scholarships available. Students apply at their institution and officials there will award the scholarships based on their own criteria.
The public universities in Missouri are: University of Missouri System (Columbia, Rolla, St. Louis, Kansas City), Missouri State, Truman State University, Lincoln University, Missouri Western State University, Missouri Southern State University, Northwest Missouri State University, University of Central Missouri, Harris-Stowe State University, and Southeast Missouri State University. To find out more about the MOST
Program visit www.missourimost.org.
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