Flash Flood in Bollinger County, Missouri

The most serious flooding struck Wayne, Bollinger, and Cape Girardeau Counties, where 4 to 8 inches of rain fell, mostly in a 12-hour period. The highest totals were in northern Bollinger County, where radar estimates and unofficial measurements indicated up to 8 inches fell. Flash flooding of Crooked Creek, which runs through the center of Marble Hill, claimed one life and caused heavy damage to the center of town. A 21-year-old man drowned after his pickup truck was swept off Highway 34 by Crooked Creek floodwaters. The incident occurred around 4 A.M. Several homes and about 15 businesses were flooded, including the city hall and police station. Sheds and small storage buildings were swept off their foundations. In Cape Girardeau County, 50 to 100 homes were damaged by flash flooding. One woman was rescued by boat when an ambulance couldn't reach her home off flooded County Road 379 north of Crump. In downtown Cape Girardeau, parked vehicles and a restaurant were flooded. Flooding of the Whitewater River made Highway 72 west of Millersville and Highway 34 at Bufordville impassable. A post office, an antique shop, and some homes in Bufordville were flooded. In Wayne County, residents in Coldwater were trapped in their homes when water went over a bridge. At Sam A. Baker State Park, the levy along Big Creek broke, flooding the park's visitors center and campgrounds. McKenzie Creek flooded in Piedmont, placing a number of residents on notice to evacuate. U.S. Highway 67 was closed when floodwaters inundated a one-mile stretch near the Wayne/Madison County line. Two bridges were washed out near Cascade in Wayne County. Numerous state and county roads were damaged by flooding in Carter, Wayne, Bollinger, and Cape Girardeau Counties. In other counties, several roads in each county were closed, and some low-water bridges were topped. In Perry County, U.S. Highway 61 was closed at Appleton due to floodwaters from Apple Creek approaching the bottom of the bridge. Official 24-hour totals from co-operative observers included 4.31 inches at Marble Hill (Bollinger County), 5.80 inches at Jackson (Cape Girardeau County), and 4.00 inches at Bloomfield (Stoddard County). Other co-operative reports were under 4 inches.