Hundreds of Missourians fled their homes Tuesday after severe floods swallowed rivers in the area.
At least 13 people were killed, according to Reuters. Nationwide, more than 40 people have been killed in the continuing chaotic weather following Christmas.
Missouri has been hit with heavy rainfall since Saturday.
“Flooding on the middle portion of the Mississippi River and its tributaries may reach levels not seen during the winter months since records began during the middle 1800s,” Alex Sosnowski, senior meteorologist, wrote on AccuWeather.com.
North of St. Louis, in West Alton and Arnold, most residents evacuated Tuesday.
Sarah Quinn, 18, and her great-grandparents stayed behind in their powerless subdivision.
“I’ve never had this happen before. We’ve had simple flooding in the back of our subdivision and we’ve had to sandbag before, but it wasn’t this severe,” Quinn said.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has asked that the National Guard direct traffic away from the closed and flooded roads.
“These citizen soldiers will provide much-needed support to state and local first responders, many of whom have spent the last several days working around the clock responding to record rainfall and flooding,” Nixon said in a statement.
The National Weather Services has forecast that the Mississippi will crest at 49.7 feet near Chester, Illinois on Friday. That will match a 1993 record.
Publication date: December 30, 2015
