最新杏吧原创

Valley Park, Eureka, 最新杏吧原创 County and state transportation officials are also bracing for Meramec flooding by closing roads 鈥� including Route 141 under Interstate 44 early Thursday morning 鈥� and encouraging residents to prepare for high water.

鈥淪ome areas will literally be an island,鈥� said Pacific Mayor Heather Filley.

The Meramec Valley School District, which includes schools in Pacific, will be closed Thursday and Friday because of flooding, according to an announcement from the district Wednesday night.

The Northwest School District in Jefferson County is suspending in-person classes Thursday as students will learn from home as part of an Alternative Method of Instruction day. This is because of flooding along the Big River, according to the school district.

About 15 people were rescued by boat from homes along the Big River in Jefferson County early Wednesday morning and Tuesday night, the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District said.

The Meramec flooding comes after record-breaking rainfall fueled flash flooding across the 最新杏吧原创 region Tuesday and killed two people in south 最新杏吧原创 County. The National Weather Service office in Weldon Spring said 3.89 inches fell between midnight and 4 p.m. Tuesday at 最新杏吧原创 Lambert International Airport.

An estimated 30% to 40% of Pacific residents are going to be affected by the flooding, which Filley expects to hit south of downtown. Flooding will likely cut off access south of the city, along Highway F, she said.

Pacific police and volunteers went door-to-door Tuesday night, encouraging residents to follow the voluntary evacuation order.

鈥淪everal people had already begun, preparing to evacuate, but some are going to stick it out,鈥� Filley said.

Those who stay, she said, have likely paid to raise their homes out of the floodplain.

Some residents, meanwhile, gathered at the city鈥檚 commuter lot Wednesday to fill sandbags.

Doug Wurst, who has lived in the Pacific area for decades, joined volunteers who filled dozens of the white bags.

鈥淚 just thought that maybe I could help out,鈥� said Wurst.

Steven O鈥橪eary knows firsthand the damage the flooded Meramec can cause. He worked as a cook at the Pacific Brew Haus and saw how previous floods damaged the businesses in downtown Pacific.

鈥淚 know how it feels to be in their spot,鈥� he said.

Waiting for the water

Connie Parmeley bought her house on Pacific鈥檚 Columbus Street two years ago. The previous owners raised the house, but Parmeley and her family are still heeding the call to evacuate. They鈥檒l stay with relatives.

They packed up Wednesday, moving belongings from the basement to the main floor. Parmeley and her family are not sure when they鈥檒l to return to the home, as city officials have said building inspectors will need to first clear structures for occupancy.

鈥淲e are leaving the stuff we can part with and hoping for the best,鈥� she said.

She pointed to a nearby commercial property where employees had been driving semi trucks and trailers off the lot all afternoon. 鈥淭hey are expecting something to happen or they wouldn鈥檛 be doing that,鈥� she said.

Miranda Wood, a special education teacher in Pacific, moved into her home on Central Street in June. A former Eureka resident, she is familiar with flooding along the Meramec River but was unsure what to make of the concerns in Pacific.

鈥淚鈥檝e looked at the websites, I鈥檝e looked at the projections and I think I will be ok,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I have no idea what (the river) is actually going to do.鈥�

Across the street, John and Emma Moore, both in their 80s, have lived in their house since 1973. This is the fifth time that they鈥檝e had to evacuate for flooding. The last time the Meramec River waters damaged their home, the couple spent more than 4 months living in a hotel.

John Moore said they didn鈥檛 even consider staying in their home this time.

鈥淣ot when there鈥檚 flooding. There is nothing you can do when the waters come, but leave,鈥� he said.