Governor Jay Nixon received a phone call Wednesday from President Barack Obama, vowing to provide federal assistance to deal with Missouri’s communities devastated by flooding. Obama asked Nixon for the latest information on flood relief efforts and told Nixon that White House staff is monitoring the events closely.
Governor Jay Nixon speaking via phone to President Barack Obama
Obama also gave his sympathies for those killed. At least fourteen Missourians have died as a result of flooding since last Friday, 12 of which were caused by vehicles being swept away by flood waters.
Flooding has caused evacuations in several cities, including the east central Missouri towns of Valley Park and West Alton.
Hundreds of roads throughout Missouri are closed and detour routes are also in jeopardy of closing.
Some farms are flooded and livestock is unaccounted for in Missouri according to Rhonda Devault with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in the eastern Missouri town of Union. Some Missouri farmers are scrambling to transport their grain before it’s destroyed by flooding.
Nixon has activated the National Guard to help with evacuation and assistance. He said hundreds of Missourians have been rescued from flood-stricken areas.