Flood Threat Continues South Of St. Louis

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Homes in rural southern Missouri and Illinois are increasingly threatened by swollen rivers as levees crumble and the water keeps rising.

Two more levees succumbed Friday, bringing to at least 11 the number of levee failures.

Back upstream near St. Louis, water from the Mississippi, Meremec and Missouri rivers was largely receding and two major highways have reopened as residents assess the damage and clean up.

St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger lifted a state of emergency that had been in place for nearly a week due to widespread flooding. Stenger surveyed damage Friday.

Stenger says the county will offer interest-free loans to businesses that sustained flood damage and work with affected residents as well.

The floods have left at least 22 dead and five missing.