The National Weather Service says major flooding is expected through Monday along Black River in Butler County.
A flood warning is in effect along the river and tributaries in Butler County until Tuesday morning. Black River is expected to rise above flood stage of 16-feet Saturday evening and crest at 21-feet by Monday morning. The Poplar Bluff gauge record is 22.15 feet March 20, 2008.
Three inches of rain saturated the area prior to Saturday and another 6-8 inches is expected by Monday. Butler County Emergency Management Agency director Robbie Myers says residents in low-lying or flood-prone areas along the river should exercise extreme caution.
"If we get that and those models hold up, then we are going to have flooding problems. Clearly the ground is already saturated after what we've had. If all of the sudden some of this comes down more rapidly, there will be flash floods in some of those typical areas," Robbie Myers said.
Flood walls have been installed along Ditch Road and sandbags will be available if needed. Route N in southern Butler County was closed as of Saturday morning according to the state transportation department.
Hannibal Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team, a specialized unit with a military-style Zodiac inflatable rescue boat was stationed at Butler County Fire Department to serve the region at the request of state mutual aid coordinators.
"SEMA put out a request for resources and we told them we had a team available and would come down and volunteer," said Hannibal FD Capt. Ben Devlin. "We have all the capabilities short of having a helicopter rescue. Anything swift water related, we are capable of doing."
Areas along the St. Francis River in Southeast Missouri are also advised to exercise caution. The river at Fisk, Mo. is expected to crest at 20 feet, which is flood stage, around 8 p.m. Sunday. More intense flooding is expected at Patterson with a crest of 31 feet at 8 p.m. Sunday. Flood stage at Patterson is 16 feet.
The Missouri Highway Patrol has 48 marine troopers, 30 rescue boats, and a helicopter capable of water rescue staged in the event of flooding this weekend.
The Poplar Bluff Police Department, Poplar Bluff Fire Department and Butler County Sheriff's Department also are prepared to assist flooding victims.
The U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers at Wappapello Lake issued a statement Friday advising lake discharge will be increased Saturday or Sunday as lake water levels rise.
"With an additional 7.9 inches of rain, the lake would be forecasted to crest near elevation 385 feet. The top of the overflow spillway is elevation 394 feet. The present discharge is approximately 4,200 cubic feet per second, but will be increased to approximately 10,000 when water on the ground has the lake forecasted to rise above elevation 379 feet," the advisory stated.
The Corps also advises visitors many accesses around the lake have been closed due to rising water levels.
A flash flood watch has been issued for most of Southeast Missouri until Sunday night. The NWS warns never drive into flooded areas. According to the NWS, six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult and 12 inches of rushing water can carry away a small car.