http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/lieutenant_1591.mp3
Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder toured flood affected areas across the state today. KSMU's Missy Shelton was there when he made a stop in Springfield and files this report.
Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder says he visited two homes in Southwest Missouri that had sustained damage from the flooding. He says the first home he visited is likely uninhabitable.
Help for 70 counties and the city of St Louis will come in the form of federal funds for repairing damaged infrastructure. No word yet on whether federal assistance will be available for individual homeowners. Kinder says he expects an announcement on individual assistance in the next several days.
In the meantime, he says some towns are facing dire situations...one of those is in Southeast Missouri.
Those challenges may get worse this weekend...Forecasters warn that homeowners in low-lying areas near St Louis could see record flooding, especially near the Meramec River. Kinder says even the mighty Mississippi River is rising quickly as a result of excess water feeding into it from tributaries.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for 33 counties across southern Missouri until 6 tonight as runoff continues to cause flooding.