WEST ALTON, MO (KMOX) - The latest flood predictions have officials in riverside communities shaking their heads and planning for the worst.
According to the National Weather Service, the Mississippi River is expected to rise another two feet before cresting early next week. The river is expected to stay in the major flood range beyond June 11. That's as far as the chart goes.
In West Alton, MO, officials removed sandbags from atop a levee Monday evening, allowing floodwaters to fill the natural spillway along Riverlands Way.
Mayor Willie Richter tells KMOX hopefully that will equalize pressure on the levee, which is saturated after more than a month of high water. He says the goal is to prevent a major breach.
"If you had a hole blown in the levee," he says, "we're pretty much with no protection for the next year or two. If we can let it in slow, it will take a while to get back out, but it will be more controllable."
Rivers Pointe Fire Protection District Chief Rick Pender says the levee is built to protect up to 34', and with a projected crest of 37', they had no choice.
"There's already been some protective measures put in place, but you're basically looking at trying to hold back three feet of water and that's not going to happen over six, maybe eight miles of levee," Pender says. "It just can't be done."
Before the release, firefighters went door-to-door in the impacted area warning residents of the move. Richter says, like him, many homes in that area are elevated or on stilts.
"For me, if water is around my house we can take a boat and still get out," Richter says. "But, if they don't have that opportunity, they need think, 'okay we need to find someplace to stay for awhile or make sure I'm safe.'"
Floods cancels more community events
Meanwhile, upriver in Grafton, they're preparing to buid a rock berm to protect City Hall. Mayor Rick Eberlin says that after missing the lucrative Mothers' Day and Memorial Day weekends, the tourist town is hurting.
He tells KMOX Tuesdaay, he is having to cancel the Southwestern Illinois Conference of Mayors convention, which was scheduled to come to Grafton for the first time late next month. He is also having to postpone, for a third time, the annual visit of the Nina and Pinta replicas. He hopes that can be rescheduled when the river levels drop.
He says business at his ice cream shop last Saturday was down 77% compared to the same day last year. He expects most businesses are seeing similar numbers.