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More residents are packing up and moving out after officials expanded the suggested evacuation area around the lower Salt River basin Monday.
You'll remember the Army Corps of Engineers was releasing 12 thousand cubic feet or 90 thousand gallons a second from the Clarence Cannon Dam into the Salt River. It's being done to reduce the flooding in the Mark Twain Lake.
At last check the Corp is releasing more than 180 thousand gallons of water after Sunday's heavy rains and will continue to increase the releases until Tuesday morning. At that time the dam will be gushing out 35 thousand cubic feet of water per second.
The crest is currently 638.6 above sea level with a crest of 639.5 set for Wednesday. That crashes through the record set back in 1993.
With the release of more water from the Lake, comes the news of more evacuations from the Salt River basin. Ralls County officials informed 15 more residents they may be in the path of the swollen Salt River.
Ralls County Sheriff Paul Forney said, "We're expanding the radius because of the information the corps has given us about more water than they expected in the beginning. We're not saying these areas will be flooded. We're just trying to protect everyone's property and prevent injuries and drowning."
Some folks fear these homes might not be the only thing in harms way.
Is the dam in any danger?
Army Corps of Engineers Park Ranger Mary Heitmeyer said, "No the dam is performing as was its design to hold back or store extra water. We're certainly doing that. We are in new territory because we passed our '93 level of 636.7."
Heitmeyer says crews are perfoming safety inspections on the dam 24 hours a day. She also says the work you see here is nothing to be concerned about.
Heitmeyer said, "If people are seeing work being done below the dam, its in order to protect the utility structures, the powerhouse and that sort of thing. If they see moving dirt or sand bags, it would be to protect utilities. There is not a problem with the dam."
