WEST ALTON, Mo. (KMOX) - A voluntary evacuation order is now in effect for residents in West Alton, Mo. due to current projections that the Mississippi River will crest above the levee this weekend.
Fire Chief Richard Pender tells KMOX about 1,200 residents, living between the power plant and the Point, as well as East and West of U.S. 67, are expected to be affected.
The post on Facebook says, "If you are protected by the Mississippi River Levee, this pertains to you."
"With these projections and with the fast rise of water we do not want to take any chances or wait for any other projections to go downward," Pender says. "We want people to take action and we want them to put their plans in place."
Pender says the wall of water that's expected is going to be higher than what the levee system can handle and they won't have enough time before the weekend to "take proactive measures."
The current projections also do not include any additional rainfall past Thursday. The St. Louis area is expected to be hit by about another half-inch of rain on Thursday and Friday.
National Weather Service Hydrologist Mark Fuchs says they're expecting "minor to moderate" flooding with both the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers projected to crest in areas in Missouri like Jefferson City, Hermann, St. Charles, and Winfield as well as in Illinois cities like Grafton and Alton.
Pender says are still being worked out to setup shelters for residents. But he stresses the important thing is for people to be out of their homes before Saturday.
A flash flood watch remains in effect for most of the St. Louis area through Thursday morning.