Events have been scheduled in Poplar Bluff, Van Buren, Doniphan and Ellington over the next two weeks to give flood victims one-stop access to recovery resources.
A variety of government and non-profit agencies will be available at the Multi-Agency Resource Centers, said Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director Robbie Myers.
The MARCs will include trained workers who can help people access housing, public assistance, understand insurance policies and the claim filing process and connect with community partners such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities.
Missouri is still awaiting word on a federal emergency declaration, which would open the door to more recovery resources.
"It changes things in being able to access different things at the federal level and even some state programs," Myers said. "Getting that decision would be crucial for many families."
Many communities, including Butler, are still working to compile complete lists of the properties that were damaged by flooding.
FEMA representatives are scheduled to tour damage in Butler County on Friday, Myers said.
The city of Poplar Bluff is also providing dumpsters for flood victims to drop off damaged items. The dumpsters will be available at the city's leaf disposal site on County Road 604, which is used for Buff up the Bluff. The same rules apply as for the spring clean up, according to officials, such as no paint and no household trash.
After Wednesday, the site will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Lake and river levels continue to fall this week.
Wappapello Lake stopped crossing its auxiliary spillway at 7 a.m. Monday, after a second crest at 396.51 feet Saturday, said project manager Cindy Jackson.
Clearwater Lake remained at 569.47 feet, nearly 2.5 feet above its secondary spillway, as of this morning, and continues to flow across a damaged section of Highway HH, said project manager Randy Devenport. It has fallen slightly from a crest of 570.09 feet Sunday afternoon.
While the St. Francis River at Fisk remains about 1.5 feet above flood stage, the Black River dropped below flood stage Saturday at Poplar Bluff. The Current River went back up Friday, but has been below flood stage for nearly a week at Van Buren and since Sunday at Doniphan.
Locations
MARCs will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations:
Wednesday -- Ellington City Hall, 100 Tubbs Ave.
Thursday -- Memorial Baptist Church, 2215 South Broadway, Poplar Bluff
Friday and Saturday --Van Buren Youth & Community Center, CR 1204 State Highway D
May 17 -- Caring Community Partnership, 209 Highway St., Doniphan
Anyone unable to attend a MARC can also call 314-516-2700 for assistance.
A donation center will be open from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday in Poplar Bluff, where residents can pick up cleaning supplies and other items. The center is at 621 W. Pine, the former south campus location for Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.
Free rides in
Butler County
Southeast Missouri Transportation Service will offer free bus service to Butler County residents for both the MARC and the distribution center, said SMTS regional manager Steve Bush.
Residents will need to call two hours in advance of the time they would like to be picked up for the Wednesday evening distribution center, he said.
City residents need to call 30 minutes in advance for the Thursday MARC and county residents need to call by the end of the day Wednesday to arrange pick up, Bush said.
SMTS can be reached at 573-785-2928. Families also need to bring a car seat or booster seat for children under the age of 4.
Residents need to bring proof of address to both the MARCs and distribution center events. Childcare will be available at the MARCs, according to the State Emergency Management Agency.