Tagged: Missouri River Flooding 2011

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has directed the National Guard to coordinate efforts against flooding along the Missouri River and its tributaries.

Nixon issued an executive order Wednesday allowing the Missouri National Guard to work with local police and emergency management agencies to ensure that people's homes and property are protected.

Small Earthquake Felt in St. Louis

A light earthquake shook parts of Missouri and souther Illinois early this morning. The United States Geological Service says the 4.2 magnitude earthquake was centered about 14 miles east of Sullivan in Franklin County. Sullivan is about 50 miles southwest of St. Louis.

The earthquake, which was 3.2 miles deep hit about 3:10 a.m. The USGS says the temblor was felt as far west as Columbia, Mo., and as far east as Carbondale, Ill.

Cities and towns along the Missouri River should begin preparing for major flooding in the next few weeks, according to federal officials.

The high water levels on the Missouri in the upper Great Plains are being blamed on a near-year’s worth of rainfall in a few week’s time -- and 140 percent more snowfall in the areas of the Rocky Mountains adjacent to the Missouri River basin.