Midwest Flooding - Slow Motion Disaster

In this aerial photo, floodwater covers Interstate 55, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, in Arnold, Mo.  Surging Midwestern rivers forced hundreds of evacuations, threatened dozens of levees and brought transportation by car, boat or train to a virtual standstill Thursday in the St. Louis area.  (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Dozens of counties in Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois declared disaster areas

Evacuations around St Louis as river levels set to rise again on Thursday

Floods swamp Missouri, Illinois; nine million people in risk areas

reuters.com - by Mary Wisniewski - December 31, 2015

Record flooding from rain-swollen rivers has washed out hundreds of structures in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, forcing thousands to flee their homes, and 9.3 million Americans still face flood warnings.

At least 28 people have died in the U.S. Midwest's extreme weather since the weekend, mostly from driving into flooded areas after storms dropped up to 12 inches (30 cm) of rain, officials said.

The days of downpours have pushed the mighty Mississippi and its tributaries to record highs or levels not seen in decades, the National Weather Service and local officials said.

Southern states like Louisiana will be the next to lose homes and businesses to flooding as overflowing rivers push downstream toward the Gulf of Mexico, the National Weather Service said.

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(ALSO SEE RELATED ARTICLE HERE - The Weather Channel - Midwest Flooding: Interstate 55 Closed Near St. Louis)

(ALSO SEE RELATED ARTICLE HERE - The Guardian - St Louis faces more pain as Mississippi floods wreak havoc across three states)