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HANNIBAL, MO. -- Flooding also has a big impact on local businesses.

That's especially true for the Mark Twain Riverboat in Hannibal.  In times of high water the business itself has to move.

Rain is not a welcome sight these days for Captain Steve Terry at the helm of the Mark Twain River Boat.

Captain Terry said, "Once floodgates go in, it completely changes things up."

Captain Terry says many times news reports of flooding on the Mississippi tends to deter tourists from visiting Hannibal. When the actual flood wall goes in and river water takes over the riverfront, his location is blocked to traffic.

To keep things going during times flood, his riverboat and the gift shop have to get to higher ground.  That's a big task which requires crews and tow boats to push the gift shop landing barge to another landing upstream.

Captain Terry said, "It's expensive, but it's what we have to do to stay in business."

Already this season he's had to move his business upstream to a different landing three times.  Last year he moved five times.  And when he has to move away from the downtown, it definitely hurts business.  Typically it cuts the numbers of people on daily cruises by half.  He does his best to let people know the boat is running with signs ... but this less visible location is not ideal.

Captain Terry said, "We field a lot of phones calls from people wondering 'are you open?' and we let them know yes we are open."

Open and boarding for those visitors who are willing to go a few blocks further for fun.