ARLINGTON, Va. - More than 600 National Guard members in Illinois and Missouri will continue sandbagging operations along the Mississippi River today in an effort to thwart the floodwaters that are subsiding in Iowa.
The Illinois and Missouri rivers flow into the Mississippi just north of St. Louis. Unlike 1993, flooding on those rivers is not as bad as it was then, according to local news reports. In St. Louis floodwaters are expected to crest at 39.4 on Friday, which is about 10 feet below the record set in 1993.
In Illinois, 400 Soldiers and Airmen were mobilized over the weekend to work on the levees north and south of Quincy, Ill. About 100 Air National Guard personnel from the 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield, Ill. and the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria were mobilized on Sunday and directed to the Sny Island Levee, which stretches for more than 50 miles in Adams and Pike counties.
The Soldiers and Airmen are expected to fill 500,000 sandbags today as they help fortify levees along a 15-mile stretch on their side of the swollen Mississippi near Quincy, according to the Associated Press.
"Guardsmen are working with local volunteers, Illinois Emergency Management Agency personnel, local authorities and other state agencies making heroic efforts to protect critical infrastructures and lives," said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, the adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard. "(We) have the full support of the governor, state legislators and federal official in coping with the largest flood since the record-breaking flood of 1993."
Enyart said more National Guard troops are available if needed.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has declared 15 Illinois counties as disaster areas.
"We're at a very critical juncture in the fight against the Mighty Mississippi, and I am committed to providing every possible state resource we can to help protect these threatened communities," Blagojevich said. "In addition to our many National Guard troops and other personnel and assets already in the region, I am encouraging my state agency directors to allow their employees who are certified as American Red Cross volunteers to help out during this emergency. We all need to pull together and help our fellow Illinoisans during their time of great need."
In Missouri, about 200 Soldiers are monitoring the levees in Canton and West Quincy and sandbagging in Canton, Hannibal and Clarksville. There are also liaison officers working with officials in Clark, Lewis, Marion, Ralls, Pike and Lincoln counties.
An additional 65 Soldiers will be mobilized today to support the communities of Clarksville and Hannibal, said Capt. Tammy Spicer, the state public affairs officer.
Missouri National Guard units supporting the flood response efforts include the 1438th Engineer Company (Bridge) from Macon and Kirksville, the 1138th Transportation Company from Jefferson Barracks and Centertown, the 835th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion from Jefferson City and the 70th Troop Command and the 1035th Maintenance Company, both from Jefferson Barracks.
"The Missouri National Guard has a trained, disciplined force ready to meet the challenge of the rising waters," said Maj. Gen. King Sidwell, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard.
These mobilizations are a result of an executive order signed by Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt on Wednesday. The will remain on duty until released by local authorities and the governor.
"We remain engaged with local officials along the river working to anticipate future needs," Spicer said.