Local News

Widespreading flooding throughout the states of Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio this week has led to a total of 13 deaths, with hundreds of more displaced from their homes.

Already dealing with the melting snow from heavy storms just over a week ago, heavy rains pushed rivers and waterways over their banks, flooding towns and forcing residents to flee their homes.

Missouri has been declared a disaster area by President Bush, which makes the state eligible for emergency funding.

In Ohio, although the skies cleared and rain stopped on Thursday, rivers throughout the state were flooding and two major highways in Columbus were closed due to high water. State authorities have warned that many rivers would crest well above flood stages. In Ohio, several days of rain which followed the melting of up to 20 inches of snow is what caused the flooding.