JEFFERSON CITY — State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, joined Missouri’s governor, lawmakers and officials from the St. Joseph area for a tour of flooded portions of Buchanan County. The group saw locations impacted by rising flood waters and reviewed efforts to hold back the deluge.
 “It was heart-breaking to see the devastation caused by recent floods, but also encouraging to see all the work that has been done to minimize additional damage,” Sen. Luetkemeyer said. “I am grateful for the support of our state and federal government, as our community continues to deal with the catastrophic effects of this major flooding.” Farms, homes and businesses throughout low-lying areas of the 34th Senatorial District have been inundated with rising flood waters as local rains combine with historic flows from upstream dams along the Missouri River. On May 21, the governor declared a state of emergency in response to flooding in many areas of the state, including Platte and Buchanan counties. A series of executive orders in recent days have activated the Missouri National Guard to assist with flood relief and eased regulations to facilitate recovery efforts Flooding has been a persistent problem along the Missouri River since March. The situation has been compounded by releases of water from upstream reservoirs managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In April, Sen. Luetkemeyer co-sponsored a Senate resolution calling on the Corps to reconsider its policies regarding flood management along the Missouri River. “The floods of 2019 brought to light the need for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize the protection of human life, family farms and small business owners over its concern for fish and wildlife,” Sen. Luetkemeyer said. For more information about Sen. Luetkemeyer, visit www.senate.mo.gov/luetkemeyer. |