7/15/93
By: Brien Murphy & Susan Denkler
Courier-Post Staff Writers

Hannibalıs marina ripped away from its moorings Friday afternoon, causing at least one boat to smash into a sidewalk at Nipper Park. Several of the docks were damaged.

The accident presumably was caused by pressure from the record-high Mississippi River, which reached an all-time high on Thursday, surpassing the record set in 1973.

The river level was still reported by the National Weather Service at 28.6 feet at 10:30 p.m. Friday. It is expected to crest at 32 feet on Monday.

But the National Weather Service is calling for still more rain, perhaps a lot more. A flash flood watch was issued for northern Missouri Friday night, and thunderstorms are forecast today through Wednesday. Rainfall in the Hannibal area this weekend could amount to up to 2 inches, the NWS said.

A gasoline dock at the riverfront marina was torn away from its moorings. Gasoline service was cut off from the gas dock when the river began rising several days ago, and the dock will not explode if it breaks away and crashes into something, said Bob Heiser of the Hannibal Boat Harbor Commission.

Gasoline is stored in a tank underneath Nipper Park.

The marina ripped away about 2 p.m. Friday. Fourteen boats were at the marina.

One large boat smashed into a sidewalk at Nipper Park. The sidewalk was at a 45-degree angle and appeared to be the only thing holding the boat in place.

The marina swung around from its normal location on the northeast side of Jackıs Harbor Marine to the southeast side.

Heiser said initial damage reports showed several bent, broken or otherwise damaged docks. More damage will be found when the river recedes, he added.

The harbor commission prepared for high water by securing the marina with steel cable. However, with the weakened condition, a strong storm or high winds could rip the marina from the rest of its cables, Heiser said.

As the flood disaster gets worse with the rising river, Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson, acting governor in Gov. Mel Carnahanıs absence, asked President Bill Clinton to declare Missouri a disaster area so that disaster aid would be available.

Sen. Christopher ³Kit² Bond again urged President Clinton to approve preliminary disaster aid immediately for Lewis, Marion, Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles counties, according to a Bond press release.

Bond asked Clinton to approve grants, Farmers Home Administration emergency loans, Small Business Administration Disaster loans and aid to repair public facilities damaged by flooding.

On Friday night, the Bayview Bridge at Quincy, Ill., was still open. Mark Twain Lake is expected to crest at 629 feet and low-lying roads around the lake area could possibly be closed up to three weeks due to high water, according to the Corps of Engineers.

Anyone in the lake area needing assistance may contact the Monroe County Sheriffıs Department at 816-327-5175. For personal safety, it is highly recommended that no one attempt to drive through high water across roadways since the water may be deeper and faster than it appears.

Red Cross shelters are open in Hannibal and Canton, and now have also been opened in Louisiana and Wayland to help flood victims whose homes are under water.

The Louisiana shelter is at the Elks Lodge, Fifth and Tennessee streets.

The river was up to almost 26 feet in Louisiana Friday, 11 feet above technical flood stage.

In Clark County, several levee breaks have completely flooded Alexandria, forcing all 450 people from their homes. The Wayland shelter is at Running Fox School at U.S. 61 Spur.

Since June 29, the Red Cross has served more than 34,000 meals in Missouri and Illinois. Twenty-one mobile units are being used to deliver meals to flood victims and to shelters.

The U.S. Coast Guard reopened the Mississippi River to commercial fishermen, but kept it closed to recreational boats and commercial barge traffic.

Those who do venture into the water should get tetanus and diphtheria shots, available free to flood victims and volunteers at Hannibal Regional Hospital and by the Marion County Health Department.

With the flooding, the river is much dirtier than normal. Dr. Peter Hamel, HRH pathologist, said children should not be allowed to play in the water and people should not eat food or drink water that has come into contact with the river.

More chlorine has been added to Hannibalıs drinking water to combat higher-than-normal bacteria, but people who drink well water should boil it before drinking it, according to a hospital press release.