Jefferson County - East-West Gateway Coordinating Council

A Regional Overview All-Hazard Mitigation Plan 7
FIGURE J16 1993 MIDWEST FLOOD
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Areas hardest hit by the flooding were along the Mississippi and Meramec Rivers in the
eastern and northern portions of Jefferson County. The existing levee system (federal levees
along the Illinois side of the Mississippi River) intended to aid in protecting the Illinois side
from the potential of flooding endured extreme pressures from extended duration of the
high river levels. The presence of the Illinois federal levees resulted in the inundation of
floodwaters on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River. Illinois levee failures resulted in
the relief from floodwaters on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River.
During the 1993 flood, commuting was interrupted when various bridges north of the
Jefferson County area over the Mississippi River were closed due to water flooding Highway
67 to the Alton River Bridge. Commuting was also heavily interrupted when Highway 40-
61 was closed due to the overtopping of the Monarch Levee in Chesterfield, Missouri.
Prolonged flooding on the Highway 40-61 created economic loss and hardship impacts on
the St. Louis metropolitan region. They provided critical access to employment, healthcare,
emergency services, education, retail and commerce activities and transportation of goods
and services. Highway 67 provides critical access to employment, healthcare, emergency
services, education, retail and commerce activities and transportation of goods and
services.
Approximately 138 homes were bought out as a result of flooding in Jefferson County.
FEMA estimated the total dollar loss for housing units alone was $3,483,868 for Jefferson
County as of January 9, 2001. While some households carried adequate flood insurance