Scott Randolph stood in the steady downpour, watching at the rising flood waters approaching his home in Osage City late Sunday afternoon. Although he was worried about the potential effect on him, he was more concerned for his neighbors.
Some of the owners of the 25-30 homes down the road from him had spend the night after Christmas moving possessions out of their homes, he said. Water had already entered some of those homes. The water was still 15 or so yards away from the back of his home at 9366 Osage Front St.
The Osage River was at 26 feet, seven feet above flood stage, and Randolph said it was rising between 6 inches and a foot per hour at the time.
He said his neighbors would need help, but he said the community would get through this round of flooding, like it has others.
"We're resilient people. We've gone through this before," he said.
Near constant rains since Friday have caused the Missouri River to swell above flood stage. At 3:45 p.m., it was 23.53 feet in Jefferson City, according to the National Weather Service. Levees protect the North Jefferson City up to about 30 feet.
Ameren opens flood gates at Bagnell Dam
Ameren Missouri on Sunday announced it had to open flood gates at Bagnell Dam at the Ameren Missouri Osage Energy Center. Ameren said more rain is forecast, and urged property owners at the Lake of the Ozarks and along the Osage River to use precautionary measures for the next several days.
"Lake of the Ozarks levels are at 661.5 ft. and rising," said Warren Witt, director of Hydro Operations at Osage Energy Center, in a news release. "If rain continues as forecasted, the Lake will be above the levels that we reached this summer."
Ameren Missouri recommends Lake and Osage River property owners turn off electricity running to their docks or any other structures that might be submerged. As the water levels rise, Ameren recommends residents use caution and consider having their structures inspected when turning the power back on.
Ameren recommended boating and fishing enthusiasts be aware of downed tree branches or debris in the Lake that the high water may have created. It also recommended a no-wake policy starting immediately at the Lake, limiting boats to idle speed to prevent wake damage to docks, boats and the shoreline.
U.S. 63 temporarily closed in Westphalia
In Westphalia, flooding closed U.S. 63 for a time on Sunday in Osage County, and numerous other state routes throughout central Missouri are under water. The Maries River in Westphalia was at 21.29 feet, far above the 10-foot flood stage.
As of Sunday morning, about 370 state routes throughout the state were closed due to flooding, including Missouri 100 at Morrison, which will remain closed indefinitely because the road has washed away.
Drivers are encouraged to check the Missouri Department of Transportation's Traveler Information Map, located at www.modot.org or call the department's toll free number at 1-888-ASK-MODOT, to get updates on road conditions.
Motorists should take extra care in their travels during this time and never attempt to get around roadway barriers or drive across flooded roadways.
MoDOT also recommends allowing extra travel time if detours are necessary.
I-70 closed near St. Louis
The Missouri Department of Transportation said both directions of Interstate 70 on Sunday were closed in St. Charles County near Missouri 79 in St. Peters due to rising flood waters from the Dardenne Creek.
The eastbound lanes closed around noon Sunday and the westbound lanes closed around 2:30 p.m. Interstate 70 is not expected to reopen until late Sunday night or early today.
Motorists who need to use eastbound I-70 in St. Charles County can exit at Interstate 64 eastbound to Missouri 364 eastbound. Route 364 connects to Interstate 270 in St. Louis County and from there motorists can reconnect to Interstate 70. Westbound I-70 travelers will have to exit the highway at Missouri 94 in St. Charles. They can take westbound Missouri 94 to westbound I-64 to connect back to I-70.
More information
Missourians who need disaster information, shelter information, and referrals are urged to call 211. The 211 service is now available throughout Missouri.
For more information on road closures, visit the Missouri Department of Transportation's traveler information map.
Call 1-573-365-9205 for Ameren Missouri's daily report on Lake of the Ozarks water levels, or visit AmerenMissouri.com/lake for hourly Lake water-level information.
For river and stream levels and forecasts around Missouri, see the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service maps and charts for eastern Missouri (St. Louis) and western Missouri (Kansas City) and southwest Missouri (Springfield).