Heavy rain over the past week has caused flooding and stormwater problems across Jefferson County.
In Herculaneum, for example, about 70 volunteers worked this morning (June 19) to sandbag around Amvets Post 42 in an effort to protect it from floodwaters from Joachim Creek, which began to rise above its banks last week, said post member Tom Griffith, a former Herculaneum mayor.
Among those volunteers were 20 Herculaneum High School students. Dave Cook, the school’s head football coach, brought the students – members of his grid squad and the school’s summer school physical education class.
The students, along with post members and other volunteers, helped load and place sandbags around the perimeter of the post’s parking lot, as rain continued to fall sometimes slowly, other times more forcefully.
That work began around 9 a.m. and was expected to continue for several hours.
The post asked for the students’ help, said Cook, a post member.
“I guess we’ll go until it’s all bagged up. We have done this before, but it’s been a while.”
Kylle Byers, a senior football player, said he was happy to help.
“I wanted to help the community,” said Byers, 17. “I did this once before, in Colorado.”
Herculaneum building official Dodie Graves said the morning’s sandbagging efforts were focused on the post, but city officials were monitoring other potential flooding spots.
“We’re looking at the bridge on (Hwy.) 61-67 and at a residence,” she said. “It’s been a couple years since we’ve had this.”
Flooding from the Joachim Creek has damaged the Amvets facility in the past, post members said.
“In 2013, we pretty much lost the building,” Griffith said. “We had to get a new bar, replace the walls – everything not cinder blocks had to be replaced. We removed all of the appliances and other movable items.”
He said the post is constructed so that minor flooding in the building, up to a foot of water, won’t cause much damage, but flooding in 2013 rose above that mark.
Griffith said accommodations have been made to move a new monument in front of the post to safety.
“The monument company is coming to move the monument,” he said.
Griffith was barbecuing for the volunteers.
“We’re going to do our best to keep the kids hydrated and feed them,” he said.
He said he did not know how long volunteer sandbaggers would be needed, but he welcomes anyone’s assistance with the effort.
“Come on down and we’ll feed you,” he said.
Arnold
The heavy rains have caused stormwater problems throughout Arnold, with many residents complaining about flooded yards and basements, City Administrator Bryan Richison said.
“Earlier (in the week) when we had hard rain, yards and basements were flooding from that,” he said.
Those problems were happening at homes and in neighborhoods around the city that have long been plagued with stormwater problems.
However, homes that didn’t have those problems in the past are flooding now, Richison added.
“More recently, since the ground is completely saturated, people who have not had flooding in the past are having seepage into basements," he said. "It’s pretty widespread.”
Arnold Ward 3 Councilman Phil Amato said June 18 that he had 1 foot of water in his basement, which was new for him.
Richison said city officials are working on a plan to address those widespread stormwater problems
Already, the city has moved forward with plans to make street and stormwater improvements around Melody Lane, where residents have complained for years about flooding problems.
Flooding also is affecting city parks.
Rising waters from the Meramec River led city officials to close Arnold City Park today, Richison said.
And, backwaters from the Mississippi River have flooded Pomme Creek Golf Course, which the city of Arnold owns, so it was closed Thursday (June 18).
As a result of those closures, the Arnold Farmers Market, which is held at Arnold City Park every Saturday morning through Oct. 17, has been canceled this week.
In addition, the Arnold Community Theatre Troupe’s production of “Hamlet” scheduled in the park for the next three nights, has been canceled. The play is supposed to be performed Friday through Sunday, June 26-28, too, and those shows are still on. The canceled shows may be rescheduled at some point, according to the troupe’s website. To check for new dates, check its website at arnoldcommunitytheatretroup.weebly.com.
Arnold city officials also canceled a Family Day open house and soccer golf tournament that was scheduled for today at Pomme Creek Golf Course.
State of emergency
On Thursday, Jefferson County Executive Ken Waller signed an executive order declaring at state of emergency in the county.
Earlier that day Gov. Jay Nixon had declared a state of emergency throughout Missouri.
Those declarations could pave the way for the county to receive funding for sandbags, pumps and other resources to fight flooding, said Warren Robinson, director of the county’s Emergency Management Office.
Waller said Kimmswick city officials have closed its floodgates and requested a couple of pumps.
Robinson urges those who live along rivers, creeks and streams to keep an eye on rising water and evacuate if necessary.
“And if you’re driving on a road along the water, slow down. Take precautions. And never try to drive though a flooded roadway,” he said.