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Gov. Parson to Hannibal officials: we’re doing everything we can with the situation we’re in (Video-WGEM)

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Gov. Parson, Mayor and County EMD John Hark, State Rep. Louis Riggs

Gov. Parson met with local leaders in Hannibal as he toured efforts to stave off Mississippi River flooding. Mayor John Hark said the city is in good shape “thanks to city employees and citizens” who have been sandbagging during all daylight hours.

The governor also recognized the Department of Corrections inmates who have been helping across the state.

“Those men and women have been out there helping every day just like everyone else; they’ve out their backs into it,” Parson said.  “Sometimes take just a second to appreciate people like that that are out there working.”

“Unfortunately, the rain’s not going to let up,” Parson said.

Missourinet’s TV and radio partner in Quincy, WGEM, covered the press conference Monday.

Read their story- watch presser here

 

Riggs: “It’s all hands on deck” in northeast Missouri; major flooding to continue (AUDIO)

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The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis warns that major flooding is expected to continue in northeast Missouri for the next one to two weeks.

The National Guard’s 35th Brigade has been assisting along the Mississippi River in northeast Missouri’s Clarksville (May 31, 2019 photo courtesy of Missouri National Guard Twitter Page and Sgt. Christy Van Drunen)

State Rep. Louis Riggs, R-Hannibal, tells Missourinet volunteers are still needed to sandbag in Hannibal and Quincy.

“Another nice thing is seeing how many families are getting out there, I mean little kids, five, six, seven years old, pitching in,” Riggs says.

He says it’s “all hands on deck” in the Hannibal area and across northeast Missouri. Riggs praises the volunteers, saying they have filled hundreds of thousands of sandbags.

The NWS says the Mississippi River crested on Sunday in Hannibal, Louisiana and Clarksville. The Mississippi crested at Hannibal at about 30 feet.

Riggs says levees across northeast Missouri are saturated.

“The power of the (Mississippi) River. We’ve been at flood stage in this area since March 15th,” says Riggs.

Riggs says the weather pattern has been “horrible.” He says the weather pattern reminds him of 1993, the year of the Great Flood.

The NWS says there’s a slight risk of severe weather across northeast Missouri on Tuesday.

As he did during a Thursday interview, Riggs is asking for prayers for those impacted. He tells Missourinet “the power of prayer” is working, saying there have been miracles in the Fabius River Drainage District area.

He says Highways 61 and 24 in that area are still open.

Riggs represents Marion, Monroe and Shelby Counties in the Missouri House. All three counties are rural, with a large agricultural presence.

Closer to St. Louis, the NWS confirms there has been a breach in the Pin Oaks levee near the small town of Winfield, north of St. Charles.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with State Rep. Louis Riggs, R-Hannibal, which was recorded on June 2, 2019:

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River conservation group: “illegally over-built levees” contribute to Upper Mississippi River levee breach

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According to the organization American Rivers, a levee breach in West Quincy was aggravated by “illegally over-built levees downstream and across the river.”

Union Township Levee Breach

In a statement, the national river conservation and protection group says, “The levee is at a ‘choke point’ in the river where so much of the floodplain is blocked by levees that the river has no room to spread out when it floods. The Union Township Levee is surrounded by illegally over-built levees downstream and across the river. The actions of the neighboring levee districts to build up their levees without the requisite permits and approvals likely pushed additional water onto the Union Township Levee, contributing to the breach.”

Olivia Dorothy, associate director for the Upper Mississippi River Basin with American Rivers, is calling on “regional leaders to support the development of a basin-wide flood risk management strategy that puts public safety first.”

The group classifies the Upper Mississippi River is among America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2019 due to the threats of illegal levee development and climate change.

Levee breached in southern Howard County

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photo: LG Patterson, 93.9The Eagle

A levee in the southern part of the county breached late Friday morning. Even more road closures and property damage were expected in the Boonville, New Franklin, and Rocheport area.

Hundreds of roads are closed in the state, and it may stay that way for a while. See MoDot’s latest list here. Spur 240 was one of the newer closures as of Friday morning, between Highway 40 and Route BB in Rocheport. Evacuations continue in parts of towns like New Franklin and Brunswick.

Sandbagging efforts continue in Missouri River towns like Rocheport and Hartsburg to fight back the flood.

Read more at 93.9 The Eagle, our Columbia affiliate.

BREAKING: West Quincy under mandatory evacuation order; urgent need for sandbaggers in Canton (AUDIO)

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A state lawmaker who represents northeast Missouri says West Quincy is under a mandatory evacuation tonight, following a levee breach along the Durgens Creek.

State Rep. Louis Riggs, R-Hannibal, tells Missourinet a levee from the Union Levee District near LaGrange has failed, along with some other levees in both Lewis and Marion Counties.

Riggs says the Quincy Memorial Bridge is still closed tonight, but the Quincy Bayview Bridge has opened back up to Missouri traffic.

Representative Riggs also tells Missourinet there is an urgent need for sandbaggers to fortify the Canton levee, which is on the Mississippi River.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis says the Mississippi River in Canton is cresting today at about 26.8 feet, and that the Mississippi at Hannibal is expected to crest Friday at 30.7 feet.

Riggs says sandbagging in Hannibal has topped off the flood wall, and that townspeople are waiting for tomorrow’s crest.

Riggs says he’s praying hard, and praying for those who have losses from the Lewis and Marion County levee failures.

He says the next 36 hours or so are critical, adding that Mother Nature needs to cooperate.

Missourinet Quincy affiliate WGEM reports the mandatory evacuation order was issued at about 6:30 this evening.

Fabius River Drainage District President Roger Sutter is quoted by WGEM as saying the river is eating away at the levee there.

Riggs says the Durgens Creek breach has eaten away at the Fabius levee.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with State Rep. Louis Riggs, R-Hannibal, which was recorded on May 30, 2019:

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Tornado damage forces popular Missouri penitentiary tours to get sidelined

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Damage from last week’s tornado has led to the indefinite suspension of the popular tours at the 183-year-old Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. The website MissouriPenTours.com is usually where people go to book a tour of the prison. At the top of the page, the site says all tours have been cancelled.

Photos courtesy of missouripentours.com

According to Missouri Office of Administration spokesperson, Brittany Ruess, last week’s twister caused significant roof damage to two of the penitentiary’s housing units. There was additional roof damage to another housing unit and the former gymnasium building. One large metal building on site was significantly damaged and a section of old stone wall also collapsed.

Brittney Mormann with the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau says nearly 34,000 people toured the prison in 2018. The annual revenue made from the tours last year was $689,464. Mormann says the agreement between the State of Missouri and the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau states the net profit from the tours must be used towards preserving the MSP property.

The popular Jefferson City tourist attraction has visitors from around the world who want to view the prison that dates back to 1836. It was the oldest continually operating prison west of the Mississippi River until it was decommissioned in 2004. The site has offered a wide variety of tours, including history, ghost and photography ones.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Missouri Governor Parson urges Corps to give states a seat at the table

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(This story is written by news director Brent Martin at Missourinet St. Joseph affiliate KFEQ Radio)

ST. JOSEPH, Mo.- Missouri’s governor toured flood-damaged northwest Missouri Wednesday evening, after meeting earlier in the day with three fellow governors and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Council Bluffs.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson speaks to State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (left) and State Rep. Sheila Solon (right) at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph on May 29, 2019 (photo courtesy of KFEQ’s Brent Martin)

Governor Mike Parson says Missouri is battling Mother Nature as the state fights flooding from border to border. He tells Missourinet St. Joseph affiliate KFEQ Radio (AM 680) there is virtually no part of the state that hasn’t been impacted by flooding.

“You know it’s just unfortunate right now, it just seems like we can’t get a break with the rain. No matter where we’re at, it’s just a problem and right now, we’re just trying to hold our own here in Missouri. We’re just fighting everyday to try to make sure these levees stay in place and trying to sandbag all over the state right now,” Parson says.

Parson tells KFEQ that he and fellow governors from Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska met with the Corps about the current situation. He says all four expressed their concerns about additional releases from Gavins Point Dam, and are calling for greater input from the states on how the Corps manages the river.

Parson says the governors are urging the Corps to give states a seat at the table. He says states must have a significant say in Missouri River management.

Governor Parson surveyed the Buchanan County flooding with State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, and State Rep. Sheila Solon, R-St. Joseph. Senator Luetkemeyer, who represents Buchanan and Platte Counties, says farms, homes and businesses throughout low-lying areas of his district have been inundated with rising flood waters.

Luetkemeyer notes flooding has been a “persistent problem” along the Missouri River since March. U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt told reporters this week in Jefferson City that northwest Missouri’s Craig has already flooded three times this year.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

When life handed a Jefferson City boy lemons, he made lemonade for his tornado-damaged community

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A Jefferson City boy decided to take matters into his own hands when he learned he’s not old enough to help with tornado cleanup. 11-year-old Garrett Sommerer couldn’t stand by and watch his community suffering from last week’s tornado. He did what many young kids like to do during the summertime – set up a lemonade stand. He charged 50 cents per glass and waited for the thirsty people to show up.

Lemonade stand

“The people that came were really nice. They offered me big money and no change. So that helped a lot,” he says.

Sommerer said he knew there would be a big turnout because his mom, Heather, posted on social media about the popular child summertime business.

To his pleasant surprise, the customers kept pouring in and he kept pouring the lemonade. Several firefighters showed up. Before he knew it, Sommerer had poured his heart out and raised $320 to help tornado victims.

His good deed doesn’t stop there. Sommerer is selling lemonade again Friday with a big goal in mind.

Garrett and mom, Heather, talking to tornado victim, Jerome Ruff, staying at Red Cross shelter

“It’s a pretty big number – $1,000. Right now, I think I’m going to go halfway to about $500. If I can make it up there, that’s pretty big for me,” Sommerer says.

For thirsty lemonade lovers – he will be serving up the drinks from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday on the corner of Skyview Drive on McCarty Street in Jefferson City.

The soon-to-be sixth grader has a busy Friday – he also gets to meet Governor Parson. He says his pursuit to help his community has led to his rise to fame.

“They’ve just been talking about me at school,” he says. “That’s kind of up and up my popularity.”

Sommerer says he’s been obsessed with storm-chasing since he was four or five years old and he’s a big fan of the movie Twister.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

‘One stop shop’ prepares to launch to aid Missouri tornado victims

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A “one-stop shop” is opening to help Jefferson City and Eldon tornado victims get back on their feet. Whether damage to your property is minor or major, a unified front of about 30 nonprofits wants to help victims bounce back.

A wide range of support is being offered, including gift cards, emotional and spiritual care, food, housing, insurance and legal information, food stamp replacement services, emergency financial assistance, health and wellness services and much more.

The Jefferson City location will be at The Linc, a wellness and recreation center, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday.
In Eldon, the center will be at the First Church of the Nazarene from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

At a press conference today in Jefferson City, Joe DeCock, with the Seventh Day Adventist Church, says the MARC, short for Multi-Agency Resource Center, aims to make the support process as easy as possible.

“It can be quite daunting to go through a process where there are so many things to do and they might not know what. We understand the process and we provide the personal guided service to each client that comes through – making sure they don’t miss any of the services provided,” DeCock says.

American Red Cross Board Chairman Gabe Hulsey says the nonprofits want to help things get back to normal.

“The Red Cross’s mission is to alleviate human suffering and we do that very well,” says Hulsey. “But we’re only one agency and this is a step really to bring all these other groups that do a lot of great things together and help with healing the community.”

Those applying for assistance must bring identification showing your address and proof of residence.

Here is a list of the organizations serving at the MARC:

Missouri Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Feeding Missouri
Capital City Diaper Bank
Department of Health and Senior Services
Missouri Area Agency on Aging
Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
Missouri Department of Mental Health, Office of Disaster Services
Common Ground Community Building
Red Cross
Central Missouri Community Action
Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors, Inc.
Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration (DIFP)
Compass Health Network
Community Health Center of Central Missouri
State Emergency Management Agency
Missouri Department of Agriculture
State Floodplain Management-SEMA
Mid-Missouri Legal Services
Salvation Army
Missouri Attorney General’s Office
Central Missouri Area Agency on Aging
Church of the Brethren – Children’s Disaster Services
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology
The Columbia Missouri Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint
University of Missouri Extension

If you need help or want to help with tornado cleanup, agency representatives at the press conference strongly urged people to call 211.

“What we’re hearing is that Jefferson Citians are not taking advantage of the help that’s available to them and I encourage you to do that,” says Deb Hendricks with the State Emergency Management Agency. “Some of the misconceptions are that if you ask, you’re taking help from someone else. That’s not the case. There’s plenty of help to go around.”

Those interested in lending a helping hand can show up at the Sears wing of Capital Mall in Jefferson City from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Sunday.

Material donations can be dropped off at Capital West Christian Event Center at 1315 Fairgrounds Road. The site will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until further notice. Click here for a list of items requested.

Victims can pick up items beginning Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and continuing indefinitely seven days a week. The hours could change, depending on the need for evening hours.

If you’d rather give money, that works too. Click here to submit a monetary donation.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet