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ST. LOUIS — City leaders on Saturday detailed the next steps in the recovery from widespread flooding over the past week.
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said the city will soon open a third center in the Walnut Park West neighborhood where people can drop by for essentials, in addition to Kingsway West and Ellendale. The city will also release details soon about a partnership with Lyft that will provide free rides to people in need.
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis will be accepting donations on weekdays from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at its headquarters at 1408 Kingshighway Boulevard, Jones said. The most needed items are food, dehumidifiers, cleaning supplies, mold remover, gloves, water, bug spray, clothing, toiletries and baby supplies.
The Urban League has given out hotel vouchers to more than 55 families who lost their homes, and more than 650 fans and blowers, said James Clark, vice president of public safety and community response. Churches, in the coming weeks, will become hubs for food distribution.
“This will be an around-the-clock effort,” Clark said.
Sarah Russell, commissioner of emergency management for the city, urged residents affected by flooding to contact the Citizens’ Service Bureau. That will help the city track what resources are needed, and where to send them.
Gentry Trotter, founder of the regional energy assistance program Cool Down St. Louis, called for Spire and Ameren to place at least a 30-day moratorium on disconnections while residents recover from the floods.
Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District crews are working 16-hour days, said spokesman Sean Hadley. One of the biggest issues is trash blocking inlets, preventing water from draining. If residents notice debris in inlets, and can safely remove it, they are asked to do so.
“We’re very taxed right now,” Hadley said. “We’re still on runs from Tuesday.”
The American Red Cross has been operating a shelter at the James J. Eagan Civic Center in Florissant but announced that on Sunday it will move to the St. Vincent Community Center, at 7335 St. Charles Rock Road in Normandy. And on Saturday the Red Cross opened a shelter in East St. Louis, at Mason Clark Middle School, located at 5510 State Street.
The Red Cross will give out flood cleanup supplies at 5030 Lexington Avenue, 2723 McCausland Avenue, and at the Urban League headquarters. It will also give out supplies Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the St. Louis Galleria.
"This year I quit paying my flood insurance. I had been pay $2500 a year since 2008," said Timothy Grotrian, who cleans out his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, at his home along the 1200 block of Waldron Avenue in University City. Grotrian said his basement took in more than 5 ft of water during the first flash flooding on Tuesday. His basement flooded again yesterday during the heavy rains, flooding with more than 2 ft. of water. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Mia Henderson clears out carpet from flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, along the 7000 block of Dartmouth Avenue in University City. More than a dozen of houses were flooded along the street from flash flooding Tuesday. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
"I was sitting with my children on the edge of the couch and the water kept rising. It looked like we were on a cruise ship. I don't swim," said Patricia Saddler, who recalls how the water kept rising on the first floor of her house early Tuesday morning, as she salvaged clothing on Friday, July 29, 2022, at her home along the 1000 block of Wilson Avenue in University City. Saddler's home has been condemned since Tuesday evening. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Brinkley Sandvall, who flew in from Texas to help clean up her brother's flooded home, uses bleach water to clean toys on Friday, July 29, 2022, along the 1000 block of Wilson Street in University City. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Ernie Carr, 76, carries away a two-day-old dehumidifier brought by his grandson after Tuesday's flood that was destroyed in Thursday's second flood in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. Carr and his wife Nancy, who have lived in the neighborhood for 40 years, had just finished cleaning up more than six feet of water in their basement from the River des Peres Thursday morning when four more feet came, floating away their new purchase. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
John Ward takes a moment to pet Vickie Barton's dog Freya while emptying his wheelbarrow into a city-provided trash container in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. Thursday afternoon storms filled residents' streets and basements with water from the River des Peres for the second time this week. "If they'd come with a good buyout offer, I'm gone," said Ward, a 29 resident of Ellendale. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Ernie Carr, 76, takes a rest while his son-in-law washes down his basement that filled with Thursday's floodwater from the River des Peres for the second time in a week in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. "Two times in a week, and it's never happened," said Carr, who has lived on Hermitage Avenue for 40 years. "So what did MSD do?" Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Steve Gibson's dog Ripper sniffs water soaked rags used to clean up Gibson's classic car garage behind his Hermitage Avenue home in Ellendale after Thursday's flood, the second in a week, on Friday, July 29, 2022. Gibson raised two cars in his garage, including his 1968 Plymouth Barracuda. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Mud-coated dolls sit in the backyard of the Hermitage Avenue home of Ernie and Nancy Carr following two floods of the River des Peres in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
John Ward carts flooded contents of his Hermitage Avenue home to a city-provided trash container in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. Thursday afternoon storms filled residents' streets and basements with water from the River des Peres for the second time this week. "If they'd come with a good buyout offer, I'm gone," said Ward, a 29 resident of Ellendale. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Ernie Carr, 76, tosses away a lifetime of running bibs and numbers after his basement flooded twice in a week in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. Carr and his wife Nancy, who have lived in the neighborhood for 40 years, had just finished cleaning up more than six feet of water in their basement from the River des Peres Thursday morning when four more feet flowed inside that afternoon. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Larry Ball carries artwork from his apartment in the Reserve at Winding Creek Apartments in Hazelwood on Friday, July 29, 2022. Residents, many who were rescued by boat from the flooded complex on Tuesday, scrambled for moving trucks when told they had to vacate the complex by the end of the day. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
A family member of Kenquita Hawkins peers from a truck as neighbors pack up and leave the Reserve at Winding Creek Apartments in Hazelwood on Friday, July 29, 2022. Residents, many who were rescued by boat from the flooded complex on Tuesday, scrambled for moving trucks when told they had to vacate the complex by the end of the day. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
"We lost everything," said Keith Terry as he looks over his toppled refrigerator while cleaning out his apartment in the Reserve at Winding Creek Apartments in Hazelwood on Friday, July 29, 2022. Residents, many who were rescued by boat from the flooded complex on Tuesday, scrambled for moving trucks when told they had to vacate the complex by the end of the day on Friday. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Kenquita Hawkins has a final look inside her unit before shutting the door after salvaging what she could from the Reserve at Winding Creek Apartments in Hazelwood on Friday, July 29, 2022. Residents, many who were rescued by boat from the flooded complex on Tuesday, scrambled for moving trucks when told they had to vacate the complex by the end of the day. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
"This year I quit paying my flood insurance. I had been pay $2500 a year since 2008," said Timothy Grotrian, who cleans out his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, at his home along the 1200 block of Waldron Avenue in University City. Grotrian said his basement took in more than 5 ft of water during the first flash flooding on Tuesday. His basement flooded again yesterday during the heavy rains, flooding with more than 2 ft. of water. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
"I am just digging through a lifetime of memories.... water always wins," said Ty Treutelaar, who clears out items in his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, along the 1100 block of Birch Lane in University City.
"These tires used to be in the garage," said Anthony Saddler, who cleared items from his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, on Wilson Avenue in University City. Saddler said his home has been condemned since Tuesday evening.
A resident of The Reserve at Winding Creek apartments in Hazelwood dons a mask before entering her building to clean out her unit on Friday, July 29, 2022.
Kasey Hawkins, 10, joins family members helping her aunt Kenquita Hawkins move from her apartment in The Reserve at Winding Creek apartments in Hazelwood on Friday, July 29, 2022. Residents scrambled for moving trucks when told they had to vacate the complex by the end of the day.
"I am just exhausted. I am waiting to hear back from cleaning services and insurance companies," said Jamal Walls, who takes a moment to breathe, from clearing out items from his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, in the 7000 block of Dartmouth Avenue in University City.
Ernie Carr, 76, carries away a two-day-old dehumidifier after Tuesday's flood that was destroyed in Thursday's second flood in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. Carr and his wife Nancy, who have lived in the neighborhood for 40 years, had just finished cleaning up more than six feet of water in their basement from the River des Peres Thursday morning.
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The recent heat wave loaded up clouds with water vapor and it had to go somewhere — down.
Missouri MetroLink riders are encouraged to seek alternative transportation options "until further notice," says Metro Transit.
For the second time in four days Thursday, the St. Louis region was pounded with torrential rain that led to flash flooding, road closures and water rescues.
Heavy rainfall has flooded parts of the St. Louis area, including some local landmarks, institutions and venues.
The campus has been flooded many times since 1819. This one was probably the worst.
The region cleaned up on Wednesday. Police announced a second death, of a semi-truck driver in Hazelwood.
The National Weather Service said the deluge broke a 107-year-old record.
Police tape blocked off the entrance ramp to the downtown post office building Wednesday, and the lobby appeared pitch black.
On Saturday at 3:14 p.m., Erick Cedeño arrived on his bicycle in St. Louis to a crowd of about 50 people at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park, 5700 Lindell Blvd., after riding 1,900 miles. His journey paid tribute to the same bicycle route taken 125 years ago by a group of Black U.S. Army soldiers known as the Buffalo Soldiers Bicycle Corps of the 25th Infrantry.
Some roads remained covered on Wednesday by water in East St. Louis and Caseyville.
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