The worst of three storms in as many days hit the Hannibal region hard early Tuesday.
Up to eight inches of rain fell, causing flash flooding that prompted rescues, forced evacuations, engulfed highways, swamped vehicles, damaged businesses, inundated homes and led to power outages.
A flash flood watch was to continue through 10:30 a.m. Wednesday after a warning expired late Tuesday night.
“It was unbelievable,” said a Center woman.
“’I’ve never seen it like that,” added a Louisiana man.
The American Red Cross opened a shelter in Hannibal. About 40 people had to be rescued from their homes and a daycare center with 40 kids was evacuated.
A state disaster declaration had not been sought, but Gov. Jay Nixon extended a declaration of emergency he issued last month. The declaration allows state agencies to coordinate emergency services with local authorities.
Pea-sized hail was reported at Shelbyville, and streets in most area communities were flooded.
The storms began about 4 a.m. and were gone by 9 a.m., but left a mess in their wake that could take days to clean up.
From Kirksville to Pittsfield, Ill., creeks were out of their banks, small rivers raged and debris littered roads.
A flood warning remained in effect for the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, with a rise in water levels of a foot or more predicted.
Additional storms were forecast for Wednesday and Wednesday night. Dry, hot weather was to return Thursday and Friday.
Rainfall totals included:
*Hannibal: 3.4 inches.
*Quincy: 2.1 inches.
*Palmyra: 2.8 inches.
*Monroe City: 5.5 inches.
*New London: 4. 4 inches
*Perry: 5. 3 inches.
*Saverton: 2.3 inches.
*Shelbyville: 8 inches.
*Bowling Green: 5.2 inches.
*Louisiana: 5 inches.
*Troy: 2.5 inches.
*Canton: 2.5 inches.
More than 60 roads in the region, mostly in the area stretching from Shelbyville to Kirksville, were flooded out.
To find more on road closings in Missouri, log on to www.modot.org and click on the Northeast Missouri portion of the traveler information map.
In Illinois, log on to www.dot.state.il.us and clicking on “road closures.
Hannibal, MO —
