Floodwaters continued rising today in the aftermath of Tuesday night’s storm with more rain falling in parts of north Missouri Wednesday and into today (Thursday).
Several roads remained closed, including both lanes of U.S. Highway 36 one mile west of Wheeling. It is believed that this is the first time that the eastbound lanes of Highway 36 have been flooded in this area. Even during the floods of 1993 and 1995, the eastbound lanes — which are higher than the westbound lanes — were not flooded.
“I think it is because of the heavy rainfall,” said Roger Anderson, regional maintenance supervisor for the Missouri Department of Transportation in Chillicothe. “The rain came so hard and so fast.”
The heavy rains sent the Grand River surging upward and  the river is now poised to reach its fifth-highest level ever. Its crest of 35.8 feet was expected to come sometime this evening, according to the National Weather Service. At 1 p.m. today, the river was at 34.8 feet.
Historical crests of the Grand River at Chillicothe are as follows: (1) 39.60 feet on July 25, 1993; (2) 39.10 feet on July 9, 1993; (3) 37.14 feet on May 10, 2007; (4) 36.40 feet on May 25, 1995; and (5) 35.30 feet on May 6, 1991.
Areas in north Livingston and Linn counties reported receiving up to 9 inches of rain in Tuesday night’s storm with the bulk of precipitation coming within just a four-hour period.
The other major highways through Livingston County remained open and highway officials anticipated both Highway 65 south of Chillicothe and Highway 36 west of Chillicothe — both of which were closed during the floods of May 2007 — had only a minimal chance of flooding unless the area received more significant rainfall, Anderson said.
MoDOT crews have stationed at several areas along U.S. Highway 36 assisting motorists in finding alternative routes. The detour route for eastbound traffic is:  Route 65 at Chillicothe to Route 6 at Trenton to Route 5 south to Route 36 at Laclede. For westbound traffic: Route 5 at Laclede to Route 6 west to Trenton to Route 65 south to Chillicothe.
Water started coming onto the westbound lanes of U.S. Highway 36 west of Wheeling around 8 p.m. Wednesday and by 11 p.m., all traffic was shut off, Anderson said.
By mid-morning today some roads that had been closed were being opened, including KK east of Chula.
“Grundy County got some rain last night so that will affect us somehow,” Anderson said.
The county’s bridges are in good shape, Anderson said.
Chillicothe Animal Shelter workers were on standby today, reflecting on last year’s evacuation of animals because of the threatening water. In May 2007, the river reached 37.14 feet and water did not get into the shelter. Shelter Guardian Lesley Patek said the shelter was nearly surrounded by water today but that she anticipated holding off on evacuations until water started getting into the facility.
“This is nothing like it was last year yet,” Patek said.
She said around 25 of the 70 puppies and dogs housed at the shelter are expected to be transported this weekend to other places if the road closures are not an issue.

LInk to the Missouri Department of Transportation website for the latest road closings.

maps.modot.mo.gov/travelerinformation/TravelerInformation.aspx

Link to the National Weather Service at Pleasant Hill for latest on Grand River news.
www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php