December 29, 2015
Contact: St. Charles County Division of Emergency Management, 636-949-3023
--A protective berm was completed today on Portage Road in unincorporated St. Charles County west of Portage Des Sioux to close off a choke-point in order to prevent flood waters from spreading out and further inland. The Consolidated North County Levee District is filling in low spots on the levee in the area next to the floodgate on Portage Road.
--A survey of the Consolidated North County Levee on the Missouri side shows no defects, leaks, or structural problems. The Consolidated North County Levee on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers is being checked continuously.
--The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at Francis Howell North High School.
--This afternoon, St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann and St. Charles County Police Division of Emergency Management Captain Tom Koch met with Governor Jay Nixon and National Weather Service officials for a briefing on the flooding situation in Missouri. Governor Nixon announced the activation of the Missouri National Guard to protect communities and support first responders, and reiterated that motorists should avoid driving through standing water and around barricades. For more info, visit: https://governor.mo.gov/news/archive/response-historic-flooding-gov-nixon-activates-missouri-national-guard-protect
--The State of Emergency for St. Charles County remains in effect.
--Earlier today, due to the overtop of the Consolidated North County Levee on the Mississippi River in West Alton, the Mayor of West Alton and the Rivers Pointe Fire Chief directed residents of the City of West Alton to evacuate effective immediately. The evacuation is continuing as long as the exit routes of Hwy 67 and Hwy 94 remain passable. As of this report, both of these routes are passable. These routes are being watched carefully because water has been reported going over the eastern section of the Consolidated North County Levee, but there have been no breaches (as in structural failures) reported.
--There have been no reports of flood-related fatalities. As of the evening of Dec. 29, the St. Charles County Police Division of Emergency Management received reports of 19 vehicle water rescues.
--Flood Warnings remain in effect for:
o Mississippi River at all local stations
o Missouri River at all local stations
A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for West Alton.
The Flood Warning has expired for Dardenne Creek.
--For flood warning information and updates, visit: http://www.weather.gov/lsx.
For updated road closures, flood safety info and tips, visit: http://www.sccmo.org/Flood.
For MoDOT Traveler information for state roads, routes and highways, visit: http://traveler.modot.org/map/.
###