Governor Blunt says the state is still monitoring water levels closely. Blunt says the National Weather Service has indicated the waters crests reach heights originally projected, but he says projections of flooding cresting at more than 31 feet in Jefferson City means that waters will still reach the major flood stage. The governor is pushing for joint state and federal assistance in damage assessment for 17 counties: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Daviess, Dekalb, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Lafayette, Moniteau, Nodaway, Platte, Ray and Saline. He says it appears Holt county is seeing the worst flood damage. Blunt says he expects to expand the list of counties needing help as waters levels continue to rise.
About 1 million sandbags are on hand to combat the flood waters. Blunt says 132,000 sandbags have already been used in various parts of the state, another 768-thousand more are available and ready. The governor says those figures are in addition to the 300,000 sandbags that are prepared for use in the Jefferson City area.
AUDIO: Governor Blunt On Flood Update (5:41 MP3)
