MAJOR FLOODING REPORTED THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
The heavy rains from last week caused flooding throughout Southeast Missouri.
Numerous water rescues were reported, including in Carter, Ripley, Butler, and Doniphan counties, among others.
According to the National Weather Service, rainfall estimates for the four day period ranged from 10 to 15 inches in the New Madrid area, six to eight inches in the Poplar Bluff area, and four to six inches in the Piedmont area.
According to the New Madrid County Emergency Management Agency, several local agencies are working with SEMA and FEMA to begin documenting all affected homes and businesses.
If you have damage to your home or business, remember to keep all repair receipts.
Numerous state and local agencies assisted with rescue efforts over the weekend, including the Missouri National Guard, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Type 3 Urban Search and Rescue Team, in addition to all of the local first responders who worked to keep residents safe during the storms.
BLACK RIVER IN POPLAR BLUFF UNDER FLOOD WARNING THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING
The Black River in Poplar Bluff will remain under a Flood Warning through late Tuesday morning.
According to NOAA, Black River was recorded at 19.9 feet Sunday evening, over a foot below the major flood stage. Projections have the river dropping below the minor flood stage of 16 feet early Tuesday morning.
For the Black River in Corning, the river is expected to continue to rise before cresting at 16.5 feet on Tuesday, half of a foot above the major flood stage.
The Current River in Doniphan crested at 22.82 feet on Sunday. The major flood stage is 22 feet for that area. The Current River in Van Buren reached a foot above the minor flood stage of 20 feet before cresting Saturday night.
The St. Francis River at Patterson crested in the moderate flood stage at 28.76 feet Saturday night.
Officials with the Wappapello Lake US Army Corps of Engineers tell KWOC News, the Lake Stage is expected to crest at approximately 384.5 feet on April 10th with a discharge of 10,000 cfs expected on April 13th, pending no additional rainfall in the watershed during this time.
NUMEROUS AREA ROADS REMAIN FLOODED, MOTORISTS ASKED TO AVOID FLOODED AREAS
Several roads in Southeast Missouri remain flooded from the heavy rains and storms the area received last week.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, portions of Routes 53, 142, 158, FF, H, and W in Butler County were all reported as being underwater on Sunday.
Numerous roads in Carter, Dunklin, Ripley, Stoddard, and Wayne Counties also were reported as being flooded.
Motorists are reminded to not drive into high water. Never move or drive around barricades placed on roadways.
You can find road conditions in your area on the MoDOT travellers information map at MoDOT.org or on the MoDOT app.
FREEZE WATCH TO BE IN EFFECT TONIGHT IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Temperature will fall to such a degree tonight that a Freeze Watch will be in effect.
According to the National Weather Service, a freeze watch will be in effect from late Monday night through Tuesday morning for all of Southeast Missouri.
Temperatures are expected to reach around 32 degrees overnight tonight.
Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
EF-2 TORNADO KILLS ONE IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
A tornado resulted in one death Wednesday evening in Southeast Missouri.
According to the National Weather Service, an EF-2 tornado began just northeast of Advance at 6:32 pm, running northeast along Highway 25. The tornado damaged approximately 200 structures as it moved northeast causing severe roof damage to many structures.
The tornado continued along Highway 25 into the community of Delta where many of the community's inhabitants were inside a FEMA community storm shelter.
The tornado severely damaged several buildings in Delta and continued northeast ending just south of Dutchtown. One person reportedly died as a result of this storm.
The tornado was on the ground for 20 minutes, covering almost 15 miles with estimated peak winds of 125 miles per hour.
TWO DEAD FOLLOWING HOUSE FIRE IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Two people were found dead following a house fire in Northeast Arkansas.
Greene County Sheriff Brad Snyder tells KWOC News that shortly after 9:25 am Friday, Paragould Emergency Services received a 911 call reporting a house on fire in the eastern part of the county.
Crews at the scene found the home to be fully involved and that one person had escaped the structure with serious injuries.
Once the fire was knocked down and firefighters were able to access the structure, two people were found dead inside.
The bodies of the deceased are being sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for autopsy as well as for positive identification.
Sheriff Snyder says that this is an active investigation and no further details will be released at this time.
