MONROE COUNTY, Ill. (KMOX) - Some residents in Monroe County might have to leave their homes if the Mississippi River rises to its expected crest.
The Mississippi River is forecast to hit 46 feet in St. Louis on Tuesday, which would the be the second-highest crest in recorded history. That would trigger a mandatory evacuation for anyone living along the Monroe County Bottoms, which runs west of Bluff Road due south into Randolph County. Right now, it's a voluntary evacuation in that area.
Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing is asking citizens living in the bottoms flood plain to begin to evacuate and be out of the area when the river crests on Tuesday.
Temporary pet shelters would be set up soon at the Monroe County Fairgrounds in Waterloo.
Numerous roads are flooded throughout the Monroe County bottoms. Road Closed signs have been put up. Motorists are warned against driving through standing water, and are not allowed to drive around barricades. Currently, Sheriff’s Department deputies are monitoring all traffic in the bottoms. Only bottoms’ residents and emergency personnel should be in the bottoms at this time moving forward during this high water event.
The nearby town of Prairie du Rocher has not yet announced a mandatory evacuation, but recommends anyone living on the Fort side of the closed levee gates to move to higher ground until after Tuesday's crest.