7/15/93
By: Bev Darr
Courier-Post Staff Writer

Volunteers are badly needed in three locations to help reinforce levees between Hannibal and West Quincy.

Workers are also needed by the local Salvation Army and Red Cross. The threatened levees are near the American Cyanamid plant, north of Palmyra and at West Quincy, where the only Mississippi River bridge in this area is still in use.

Drex Rothweiler, Marion County Presiding Commissioner, said the county has requested the National Guard help with sandbagging in West Quincy but this has not been ordered by the National Guard headquarters yet, so volunteers are desperately needed. "If U.S. 24 in West Quincy were to be covered with water and the bridge (to Quincy, Ill.) closed, there would be untold millions of dollars worth of damage to the economy on both sides of the river, and you would have to go to St. Louis or Fort Madison (Iowa). We encourage people to volunteer."

At West Quincy, people, boats and four-wheel drive vehicles are all needed, according to Knapheide plant manager Bryce Butler. This morning he said the levee was holding. "We are still staying slightly ahead of it. We can use all the help we can get.

"We need volunteers to fill sandbags, and we badly need volunteers with four-wheel drive all-terrain vehicles, also flat jon boats with drivers." The boats need a 30 or 35 horsepower motor, he said, and will be carrying sandbags in the river to the levee.

Volunteers may go to the plant in West Quincy, where they are working around the clock.

Another location sandbaggers are needed is the "Mark Bottoms" between West Quincy and the South River Drainage District near Hannibal, where Marion County Sheriff Dan Campbell is coordinating volunteers. For directions, call his office at 221-6400 or (314) 769-2077.

Campbell said this levee protects about 5,000 acres of farmland and is a "gumbo" levee, which is composed of a cross between clay and black dirt and is stronger than a sand levee, but water is starting to seep over the top so sandbags are being added.

As many as 100 people are needed to reinforce the South River Drainage District levee, according to Don Warren, American Cyanamid plant manager. The plant is virtually shut down with all employees working on the levee, he said.

The Cyanamid plant is protected by its own levee and is secure, he said, but Route 168 and area farms would be covered if the levee breaks.

This levee was holding up this morning, Warren said, with two spots being repaired. "We have a couple of feet left and will raise it three more feet rather quickly if we need to, but there will be a lot of pressure on the bottom of the levee. We might get it to hold for a short period of time, but if the river stays up many days, we don't know."

Volunteers cannot drive out Route 168 because this could result in their cars being in a flooded area if the levee breaks, Warren explained. They are being shuttled by bus every 30 minutes from three parking lots, at Hannibal-LaGrange College, Hannibal Middle School and Hannibal High School. The bus driver should take them to a big circus tent, serving as headquarters for the South River Drainage District. There are plans for evacuation of workers if the levee breaks, Warren said, with boats and the National Guard helicopter available.

The Red Cross and Salvation Army also need help in providing local assistance. Both registered nurses and licensed practical nurses are needed at the local shelter in the former Hannibal Regional Hospital building on Virginia to help the Red Cross nurse who is there around the clock, according to Mary Ann Graham, executive director. To volunteer, call Rosemary Beard at 221-8962. Volunteers are also needed for other tasks at the shelter and to help deliver meals to people sandbagging. Call Sandy Terry, 221-5933, to volunteer. People needing help may call the Red Cross at 221-0320.

The Salvation Army is taking meals to both flood victims and people sandbagging the levees. Volunteers may go to the building at 200 S. Ninth St. rather than telephone, according to staff member Sheila DeBary, who said teen-agers are providing "fantastic" help but more help is needed and all who volunteer will be used. The building is open around the clock. Funds are also needed for the food service provided by the mobile canteen.

The Central Missouri Food Bank is running low on food for pantries, shelters and soup kitchens helping flood victims, including those in Northeast Missouri.

Grocery stores will set up barrels for people to donate food. Items needed most include canned meats and tuna, canned vegetables, soup, pasta, powdered milk, baby food and personal care products. Cash donations may be send to the Central Missouri Food Bank, 2000 Pennsylvania Drive, Columbia, Mo., 65202. For more information call (314) 474-1020.