Nixon: Hundred Rescued from Floods

Missourinet:

Water rescues continue in parts of Missouri hit by flooding. Governor Jay Nixon says hundreds of Missourians have been rescued.
“Now counting as water rescues also is some folks that didn’t want to leave their homes, even though they were given the right to evacuate,” said Nixon. “They are being picked up literally off the top of their roofs by either boats or other methods.”
Hundreds of roads throughout Missouri are closed and detour routes are also in jeopardy of closing.
“The good news on this is that it’s relatively dry now and we’ve got a number of days that it’s not going to rain,” said Nixon. “While the crests are going to be historic, they won’t last as long as the 1993 floods. We’re hopeful if we can continue to win flood fights today and on into tonight and make sure folks are safe, at the backside of this we’ll be a little quicker to come down than in 1993.”
Fourteen people have been killed in Missouri, most when the vehicles they were in were swept away by flood waters. The death toll could rise. Emergency officials are searching for others reported missing.
Several cities have been evacuated, including the east central Missouri towns of Valley Park and West Alton. Nixon said residents and spectators need to stay out of evacuated areas.
“We’re going to follow the rule of law. We’re not going to let people in, except home owners and business owners when the water recedes,” said Nixon.
Nixon said clean drinking water and sewage issues are a concern in flooded areas. A water treatment plant in east central Missouri’s High Ridge was destroyed Tuesday by flooding. Several other facilities in Missouri are near rivers and could also be at risk of severe damage.