Levee breach in West Alton forces immediate evacuation for residents

[JaneyVee]

ALTON, Ill. –Authorities in St. Charles County say West Alton residents should evacuate their homes immediately as the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers continues to rise.

Warning sirens in West Alton activated at 8:30 to advise residents that they should evacuate at this time. Levee in the area near Highway 67 and Lincoln Sheilds Access Road has been breached, according to St. Charles County officials. At least 300 residents will be affected by this order.

Officials said West Alton is under an imminent danger for flooding after the Missouri River over-topped the Kuhs and Columbia Bottoms levees. The levees are located near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi.

Authorities said the water levels were higher than the levees were designed to handle causing them to break shortly after 8 p.m.

The rest: http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Officials-West-Alton-residents-should-be-ready-to-evacuate-due-to-floods-209961581.html

[Mnemosyne]

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