Southern Boone County stays prepared, begins cleanup after historic flooding

Southern Boone County is beginning the cleanup process after the historic flooding in the area

The director of Boone County Emergency Management Tom Hurley said the area has seen waters levels go down over the past week. “The water is overall receding, obviously with local precipitation there has been a bit of a rise but that’s not expected to be prolonged,” he said.

Hurley said the county will continue to monitor the river levels as the Missouri River in Jefferson City is projected to hit major flood stage again later this week.

He said the sandbags in the area will likely stay in place through the summer as a precaution.

“I would imagine they (the sandbags) will stay in place for quite a few weeks perhaps,” Hurley said. “It takes a significant effort to get the sandbags in place and get them filled and mobilized, and I imagine folks will wait till the river fully recedes before they begin even discussing the removal of sandbags.”

The county will be assessing damages done to structures in the area.

“In the Hartsburg area and Southern Boone County, we’ve had very few structures that were impacted, which is fortunate due to sandbagging efforts. So, we’re keeping an eye on things and assuring the folks have the resources necessary,” Hurley said.

Many roads have reopened in southern Boone County, but Hurley said it is hard to say when everything will go back to normal.

“It depends on the rate of the water decline that will determine the reopening of local roadways, and then if there is any damage to the infrastructure, to the roadbed itself, that will have to be fixed before it will be opened for traffic.”