Impact of Flood in 2019 on Mississippi River
The flooding of the Mississippi and tributary rivers during the spring of 2019 was an enormous disaster. The heavy rains, heavy snowmelt, high wind, cold temperatures and other weather-related events contributed to the flooding, causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, and highway infrastructure. Many of the low-lying areas in and near St. Louis, including the downtown district, were especially hard hit and the mighty Mississippi made its presence felt in ways rarely experienced in the past.
The flooding caused numerous transportation issues due to several road closures, as well as affecting the main arteries of shipping on the Mississippi River. One of the iconic destinations hardest hit during the 2019 flooding was Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, who play their home games along the banks of the Mississippi. The stadium was surrounded by a protective wall, meant to keep the rising waters out of the playing field and the enclosed indoor areas of the stadium.
The stadium, which was inspected on a weekly basis, was able to withstand the flooding, though just barely. Water crested just outside the protective walls of the stadium, coming within a few feet of inundating the field. In the end, the stadium’s infrastructure remained intact, though others around St. Louis did not fare as well.
Other structures near the stadium, such as the Kiener Plaza, essentially served as a buffer, absorbing much of the brunt of the rising water. The plaza was essentially destroyed as it was essentially turned into a trough, with the overflowing Mississippi waters pouring through it, making it a powerful symbol of the city’s efforts to protect its communities.
The floods of 2019 were the first major disaster that the nation had faced in decades and lessons were learned from it. This disaster highlighted the need to revisit and rethink public infrastructure, both with regards to flood protection and disaster resilience. Emergency management officials and city planners agreed that new flood control measures and other safety protocols needed to be implemented in order to reduce the risk of future disasters.
The engineering feat that kept Busch Stadium and the downtown area largely spared from the floods of 2019 was no small accomplishment. The protective wall and other flood defenses managed to keep the rising water at bay, keeping much of the area safe from the enormous power of the flooding Mississippi.
Aftermath of the Flood
In the aftermath of the disaster, communities around the country began to build more resilient structures that could better withstand flooding, as well as other environmental catastrophes. One example of a resilient structure that was built in the wake of the 2019 disaster was the installation of a series of levees to protect the downtown area of St. Louis.
The levees, along with other flood mitigation measures, were designed to keep high river waters away from the area’s most sensitive areas, such as the historic downtown district. The levee system has since been updated and improved with retractable walls, floodgates and other features to ensure that high water levels do not threaten the downtown area again.
In addition to the levee system, measures have also been taken to make homes and businesses in vulnerable areas safer. Building codes have been updated to ensure that new homes and businesses are built to withstand flooding, and previous structures have been retrofitted with newer, more resilient materials.
Moreover, emergency response plans have been updated to help communities be better prepared for any eventual flooding. FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has released new guidelines for emergency response following a flood, which includes updating evacuation maps and emergency plans for flooding.
What started out as a tragedy in 2019 has since become an example of resilience. The lessons learned in the wake of the flooding of the Mississippi River helped to inform new strategies and guidelines, which have since been used to help other towns and cities prepare for future disasters.
Cost of the 2019 Flood
The cost of the 2019 flooding was tremendous. Initial reports put the damages at over $80 billion, the second-highest-ever costs for a single weather-related event in United States history.
The damage costs were felt not just in St. Louis, where over 30,000 homes and businesses needed repairs or rebuilding, but also throughout the Midwest, with homes and businesses flooding as far away as Nebraska and Kansas.
More than 12 million acres of farmland were flooded and many of the crops planted in the spring of 2019 were destroyed. Livestock was also lost, along with significant infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and levies.
Altogether it was estimated that the economic impact of the 2019 flooding would be felt for generations to come, with a significant portion of the total damages due to preventable causes.
The damages caused by the 2019 flooding were both immediate and far-reaching. The destruction of homes, businesses, and farms, as well as the destruction of public infrastructure, will all take years to rebuild and restore.
Environmental Impact of the Flood
The environmental impact of the 2018 flooding was also considerable. The destruction of homes and businesses, as well as the destruction of farmland and other important ecosystems, had an immediate effect on the local environment. In addition, the heavy rains and high winds caused widespread destruction of wildlife and aquatic habitats.
The floods caused significant pollution of the local waters, with pollutants from oil, sewage, and industrial waste entering and contaminating the drinking water in many areas. Additionally, human and animal waste flushed by the floodwaters caused significant health concerns, as well as damage to aquatic habitats.
The environmental impact of the flooding was so significant that the Environmental Protection Agency has declared the Mississippi River in St. Louis a Superfund site, a designation given to areas that suffer catastrophic environmental damage due to human or natural disasters.
The floods of 2019 were a wake-up call to many communities, demonstrating the need for better infrastructure and better planning when it comes to disaster preparedness. In St. Louis, the lessons learned have been put into action, with new levees, flood protections and other measures that will help to protect the city in the future.
Rebuilding Communities After Flood
In the aftermath of the disaster, communities around St. Louis have had to face the daunting task of rebuilding and repairing their homes and businesses. Many of these places were already economically fragile before the disaster struck, and in the wake of the floods, they were left with few resources or assistance to help them rebuild.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided some assistance, providing grants and loans to those affected by the flooding, but it is often not enough. Local communities have held fundraisers and other events to help those affected by the floods, but many families and businesses are still struggling to rebuild.
In addition to physical rebuilding, the floods of 2019 have left an emotional toll on many of the affected communities. The destruction of homes, businesses and other places of refuge can have a significant impact on families, creating a lasting emotional trauma.
Many communities have come together to organize support groups and counseling for those affected by the floods, in an effort to provide emotional and psychological healing. Organizations such as the American Red Cross have provided invaluable support to impacted communities, providing both physical and emotional aid to those suffering from the disaster.
Education and Prevention from Flood
The effects of the 2019 floods of the Mississippi River can still be felt in many communities in and around St. Louis. In the aftermath of the disaster, the government and local organizations have sought to increase public awareness of potential disasters, and to educate people on ways to be better prepared and better protected in cases of emergency.
Educational programs have been put in place to teach people about flood safety and flood prevention. In addition, local and federal agencies have come together to provide resources and assistance to those affected by flooding, as well as to help lower-income families prepare for future disasters.
Furthermore, organizations such as FEMA have released updated emergency response plans, offering more comprehensive and detailed procedures for responding to disasters and mitigating their effects. New evacuation plans and other guidelines have been enacted to help communities better prepare and better respond to potential disasters in the future.
The 2019 floods of the Mississippi River were a devastating event, but they have since provided an opportunity to rethink public infrastructure and disaster resilience. With increased awareness, education, and assistance, many communities, including those in and around St. Louis, will be better prepared and better protected if faced with another disaster in the future.
