93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
Howard County authorities declared a state of emergency on Friday morning due to flooding.
A levee in the southern part of the county breeched late Friday morning. Even more road closures and property damage were expected in the Boonville, New Franklin, and Rocheport area.
Officials are asking for volunteers to help sandbag downstream from the levee breech near Rocheport. You can sign up at the Meriweather Cafe.
Hundreds of roads are closed in the state, and it may stay that way for a while. See MoDot’s latest list here. Spur 240 was one of the newer closures as of Friday morning, between Highway 40 and Route BB in Rocheport. Evacuations continue in parts of towns like New Franklin and Brunswick.
The Missouri River in Jefferson City is still above 32 feet as of midday Friday, and is forecast to stay over major flood stage of 30 feet until Thursday. Backwaters from the flooding have closed some streets near the Capitol. See that map here.
State workers are having to commute from lots across the city because of limited parking near the state office buildings. High Street and Highway 50 remain open.
The Kids Fest planned for downtown on Saturday is cancelled, as is the Cole County Historical Society’s ‘Madison Walk – A Walk Thru Time’.
The Inside the Walls Concert with Dennis DeYoung of the band Styx has been moved to the Cole County Fairgrounds from the old MSP prison.
(This story was last updated at 11:48 a.m. Friday.)
