Gov. Nixon tours flooded areas in Mid-Missouri

After cancelling a trip to flooded sections of Mid-Missouri, Gov. Jay Nixon toured the flood-damaged areas Thursday.

Nixon met with emergency responders and local and state officials to discuss the flash flooding in the region and continuing response efforts.

“We are still in this thing,” said Nixon. “We are watching weather patterns to see where it moves next. It’s not over yet, but we are here until it’s over.”

The governor declared a state of emergency on Tuesday. The order activates the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan, allowing state agencies to coordinate directly with local jurisdictions on emergency services.

Flooding in the state has killed three people, most recently a woman who died early Thursday when her car was swept off Missouri Route 90 near the town of Jane, Mo.

Pulaski County Sheriff Ron Long said 4-year-old Elyjah M. Lee and his mother, 23-year-old Jessica D. Lee, both of Waynesville, were in a car that was swept off a roadway early Tuesday.