Mayer Tours District Affected by Severe Storms

JEFFERSON CITY – After severe storms and tornadoes blasted their way through parts of the southeast Missouri, Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, is making his way through the affected counties to see the devastation first-hand and to look for ways to help those citizens who are victims of the weekend storms.

Most recently, area residents of Poplar Bluff have been evacuated from their homes to an emergency shelter at the Black River Coliseum due to severe flooding of the Black River. There have been three levee breaches in Poplar Bluff ranging from a 50-foot to a 150-foot breach. State officials report the Black River is cresting and moving down at this point in time.

There are also levee breaches in along rivers in three other parts of the state, including Van Buren. In addition, there have been early evacuation reports in parts of Dexter in Stoddard County.

Senator Mayer, a southeast Missouri native whose home is located in the county of Stoddard, knows all too well the hazards of what massive amounts of rain can do to communities along the levees.

"There have been several historical accounts of tornadoes and thunderstorms tearing through our area of the state," said Sen. Mayer. "Cities along rivers both small and large are no stranger to the rising floodwaters and the dangerous conditions they can bring after these storms."

Local and national agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, State Highway Patrol, State Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross, are working to help Missourians affected by flooding. Approximately 200 National Guard members are either on the ground or in route to assist in continued evacuation and patrol of evacuated areas.

"I praise the members of these agencies and others who are been working with local officials to help Missourians who need the most basic necessities — food, clean water, shelter, and clothing — which we often take for granted," said Sen. Mayer. "As I tour these areas, I pray families receive the help they need and are able to find the strength to recover from this recent string of storms."

Individuals in areas affected by flooding seeking assistance need to contact the Southeast Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross at (573) 335-9471.


Senator Mayer stands in front of Fred's Super Dollar Store with Donna Kearbey in Doniphan, located in Ripley County, one of several cities and counties in southeast Missouri affected by the recent severe storms to sweep the state.