Experts urge safety amid possible flooding

CAPE GIRARDEAU Mo. (KBSI) – Officials and experts are advising residents in the southeast to stay safe when dealing with potential flooding.

The temperatures being above freezing could produce more rain than snow, which brings local officials like Southeast District Maintenance Engineer, Tammy Hefner, to remind communities to stay vigilant.

Hefner assures residents that the Missouri Department of Transportation will be on standby even during heavy rainfall.

“The sheds have their signs and everything ready on trailers so if we have any flooding events out there, we’ll be out there with our barricades, shutting things downc” said Hefner.

Although the department will have preventative measures, Hefner advises travelers that even if they see flooded roads, to not assume the flooding isn’t serious.

“Just a little bit of water rolling really fast; can tear the road up we don’t want you going in it not knowing that, and you get swept away and unfortunately something bad can happen,” she said.

While possible flooding can be a hazard on roadways, local experts like Mac Davenport, co-owner of Servpro, believes in keeping crawl spaces and basements up-to-par is vital as well.

“Especially in flatter areas, there just isn’t anywhere for water to move. So, it’s going to find a way inside of spaces,” said Davenport.

He additionally believes that the biggest issue he sees, as far as flooding, is the damage it does to basements, and the potential hazard that comes with it.

“Check your soil levels up against the house. Should be below, so you don’t have any water,” he said.

To prevent possible flood damage or hazardous conditions, it is advised to call a local expert or official. Whether it is to waterproof your home, or report a dangerous roadway that should be blocked off.