As the St. Louis region marks the 20th Anniversary of the 1993 Flood, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing communities for the next flood season.
As water levels recede, the Corps of Engineers is working with local levee districts to assess damages from this year's floods and providing assistance in performing interim fixes.
After flooding in April, the river came up again in June to reach its fourth highest stage at St. Louis since the Corps installed a river gage on the Eads Bridge in 1862. In addition to river levels overtopping and breaching three levees during the most recent flood, some levees sustained slides, sand boils and other damages. The full scope of damage to levee and flood risk management systems is still being assessed as water levels get lower.
The Corps will provide assistance in the rehabilitation of flood damage reduction projects that are active in the USACE Rehabilitation and Inspection Program, the damage has been caused by a recent high water event, must have a favorable Benefit-to-Cost Ratio, and repairs are clearly beyond the normal, physical, and financial capabilities of the project sponsor. The urgency of the work is also considered when determining local interest capability. For more info on the Rehabilitation and Inspection Program (Public Law 84-99) go to: http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/LeveeSafetyProgram/LeveeInspections.aspx
The Corps initiated this process by sending letters to affected drainage and levee districts asking whether they think they need rehabilitation assistance (http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Missions/EmergencyOperations.aspx).
Requests for rehabilitation work must be submitted within 30 days after the floodwaters recede to bank full stage.