Emergency preparations in place for NW Missouri

ST. JOSEPH, MO (KXCV) - Emergency preparations are ramping up for Missouri River flooding during the next six weeks.

The Army Corps of Engineers is releasing dam pressure upstream in South Dakota, with about twice the normal amount of water on the way toward the Show-Me-State.

Sand bags are already being filled along the Missouri River north of Kansas City to the Iowa state line.

Thursday afternoon Missouri Governor Jay Nixon was in St. Joseph to be briefed on preparations and said coordination among state and local agencies has started in northwest Missouri, but residents across the state need to be prepared.

"This is going to run downstream, but it’s a number of weeks until anything gets to the extreme lower stage. We’ll move downstream and talk to folks in the same way we’re talking here as their challenges become more extreme," Nixon said.

The Governor says an emergency declaration is already in place anticipating the flooding along the Missouri and the state National Guard has begun working with state emergency management officials on response measures.

Nixon says there will be time to second guess and question the Corp’s decision to release water causing the concerns, but says now is the time to understand it is coming and concentrate on having preparations in place.

Kirk Wayman, KXCV

Posted in: flooding,Jay Nixon,Missouri River flooding