Flood

[RSKY]

They have raised the river crest forecasts for Paducah and Smithland Kentucky by four feet. Both are on the Ohio River. Smithland is depending on a sandbag levee which will be crested by at least two feet sometime tonight.

My sister is the PVA there and they are moving things, again, to higher locations in her offices.

Got a frantic call from the oldest son-in-law needing help to move equipment at his shop. He works for a very large international equipment leasing company. He thought his shop was safe but now they tell him it will have four feet of water by tomorrow morning. I told him to call his boss and let them tell him what to do, he just called back and said they were sending people from two other shops to help him.

This looks to be worse than the 97 floods and will have a huge impact on my area.

Sister just called while I was typing this message. She was at her office in Smithland when the sirens went off and the loudspeakers saying "Get out, get out, get out, levee breached", over and over. She and her staff dropped what they were doing and ran out to their cars and left. Now every way she tries to get out of the county is blocked by water. Told her to forget everything and come here by any route possible. Would go get her but I don't know any of the roads in that area.

 

[Localmotion]

Hope everyone is OK...

 

[amazincaucasian]

We live in Southeast Missouri between Bloomfield and Puxico. Lots of evacuations because of 2 threats: Wappappello Lake emergency levy is broken (15 min. west of us) and they're gonna blow the levy at Bird's point on Mississippi River near East Prarie (About 50 miles east of us). Our place should be ok because of elevation but we took the family about 20 miles from home to the in-laws just in case and i guess we're gonna watch history from here.

 

[beppington]

It would be nice if Mother Nature would take the Obama approach & "spread it around": It's dry almost as a bone here in FL. We would love to take some of that water off your hands, if only there was a reasonable way.

 

[MarkV]

Good luck to all of you near the rivers. It sounds as if this could be a bad flood this time.

MarkV

 

[RSKY]

Sister is at home now and has a way out on high ground. Says friends homes have water in them in places she has never seen water before.

Glad I live on high ground !!

 

[dave1949]

Good luck to all in flood zones. I really can't picture it. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if all the levees where removed and just start over? It's pretty obvious the plan they are following now isn't working. One fellow interviewed said the more and higher levees they build, the faster the water comes, which makes sense.
Dave.

 

[SPIKER]

read they were supposed to blow the flood gates i Ill tonight at 9 ~ 10pm when they got ready from different news site nothing on evening news though.

Mark

 

[Agrantina]

Its raining here now and has since Sunday.. All local rivers are over flood stage.. Our gun club is 5 feet flooded as is all of north Shelby county in Memphis.. We are dry right now but watching closely.. My wife's family cabin on the cache river in Ar is flooded.. It wasnt much but had a lot of memories for her and her family. Not much we can do but wait and see how high the water will get to flooding streams close to us. All the Tn Gov.. maps show us ok, but still worry about electric and water and sewer if everything floods around here. They are saying the might MS river will not crest for another week (Tuesday May 10th) it is projected to be a record at over 48 ft.. last time it was 48ft was 1937!! wow...

AndyG

 

[Gale Hawkins]

RSKY that sounds very serious. From the heavy rain that is marching up the Ohio Valley all night long I would have guessed the crest at Smithland/Paducah to be a few days away. It has rained hard all day today and every creek is full but here the water enters the Ohio River at Wickcliff KY or MS River at Obion TN.

Saturday the KY Dam had over 50% of the gates open and I expect more now. Do you know if Patti's in Grand Rivers is accessible from KY Dam? If we run up to look at the dam the kids will want to go to Patti's to eat.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

The Paducah Sun Online

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/floods/2011-05-02-ohio-mississippi-river-floods_n.htm

They blew the level a few hours ago. That will flood 130,000 acres and 100 homes.

 

[keegs]

I can understand helping folks who are victims of hurricanes or earthquakes or tornadoes but those who decide they want to live on a flood plain or on some barrier island should learn to deal with it on their own or move.

 

[NativeSon]

Our hopes and prayers are with you all. I can't imagine what you must be going through. My mom's family were all farmers from SE Mo. and Western Tn. and we spent a lot of summer vacations up there.

God Bless you all and keep safe.

Charlie

 

[lockhaven]

dave1949 got it right. In the long term the levees cause more trouble then they solve. The west branch of the Susquehanna is a prime example. Leves at lockhaven hold the water in as soon as it gets past the next area gets more water then ever before. Flood plains are just that an area for the water to spread out......use it for farming but do not build on it.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I can understand helping folks who are victims of hurricanes or earthquakes or tornadoes but those who decide they want to live on a flood plain or on some barrier island should learn to deal with it on their own or move.

I see your logic but know it is not that simple for some. I grew up in a flood plain but bought on the other side of the road so now our house is 100 foot higher than the high water mark. :thumbsup:

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Sorry my gut prediction came true and destruction sounds like it is going to be HUGE. Crest of 5 foot over the levee is very serious.

Paducah Sun update this TUE morning:

SMITHLAND The unexpected increase in river-level forecast depths Monday forced the evacuation of a portion of the town and attention paid to Ledbetter.
David Koon, deputy director of emergency management in Livingston County, said National Weather Service forecasts call for the Ohio River to crest at 58 feet or more Friday. The improved levee will protect the town to only 53 feet. Previous forecasts called for the river to crest near 52 feet.

 

[dmccarty]

BAD BAD BAD...

I have to go check out what is happening in L'ville......

Later,
Dan

 

[Gale Hawkins]

At lunch they blew the lower section. Dropping the MS level is letting the OHIO drop some as well so that is some help to those on the OHIO.

 

[SPIKER]

most of northern ohio had an additional inch or so of rain overnight. Our flood control dry dam has been closed for a while and is about to back up onto the road I use daily...

We were taxed recently because the rain water runs off up here and heads down south they are taking tax money from US up here and giving it to people who build in those flood zones if that just heats my drawers good stupid government making me pay for soemthing some normal person should know better than to do or at least should not get paid for doing it...

Mark

 

[Gale Hawkins]

most of northern ohio had an additional inch or so of rain overnight. Our flood control dry dam has been closed for a while and is about to back up onto the road I use daily...

We were taxed recently because the rain water runs off up here and heads down south they are taking tax money from US up here and giving it to people who build in those flood zones if that just heats my drawers good stupid government making me pay for soemthing some normal person should know better than to do or at least should not get paid for doing it...

Mark

Hey after all it is your water that is doing the damage.