{"id":12976,"date":"2024-02-20T15:40:11","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T14:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=12976"},"modified":"2024-02-20T15:40:11","modified_gmt":"2024-02-20T14:40:11","slug":"is-the-mississippi-river-flooding-in-st-louis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/is-the-mississippi-river-flooding-in-st-louis\/","title":{"rendered":"Is The Mississippi River Flooding In St Louis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Introduction<\/h2>\n

The Mississippi River, the largest river in North America, is known for its annual flooding. This is especially true for St Louis, Missouri, where flooding is the major source of flooding in the city. While historically flooding in St Louis has been seasonal, climate change is amplifying the frequency and intensity of floods in the area, resulting in costly property damage. As such, understanding the flooding situation in St Louis is essential in order to take the proper measures to protect people and property.<\/p>\n

How Flooding Occurs in St Louis<\/h2>\n

Flooding in St Louis is caused by heavy rainfall and snowmelt which cause the river to rise. The backwater effect, a phenomenon similar to a dam, further compounds the situation. When the river flows onto land without the necessary floodplains, low-lying areas can become submerged and water can rise to damaging levels, such to the point that parts of St Louis are uninhabitable for extended periods of time and some properties are destroyed or have serious damage. <\/p>\n

Recent Events in St Louis<\/h2>\n

In recent times, flooding in St Louis has been on the rise, which has been attributed to climate change. In 2019, the city reported its highest level of water in nearly 20 years. In 2020, the Mississippi River was more than 6 feet above flood stage and more than 10 feet higher than its usual level. This resulted in the closure of many businesses and forced residents to evacuate their homes until the water levels began to recede. <\/p>\n

Effects of Flooding<\/h2>\n

As aforementioned, flooding of the Mississippi River has devastating effects on St Louis. When flooding is severe, it can cause serious property damage. In addition to that, the water can contaminate drinking water supplies and lead to a shortage of food as well as outbreaks of water-borne illnesses. Further, the flooding also affects wildlife, displacing animals and destroying habitats. <\/p>\n

Prevention Measures<\/h2>\n