x
Breaking News
More () »

St. Louis fortifying the River Des Peres before Monday's flooding

St. Louis City crews are building a sandbag barrier between homes and the River Des Peres.

In St. Louis, the race is on to get a flood barrier put up along the River Des Peres before it crests late Monday night. 

Crews have a lot of work ahead of them. They're working 10 to 12 hour days filling 8,000 feet of jumbo sandbags. 

The hope is to fortify the banks before Monday night when the river crests. Current forecasts have it rising to 36 ft. 

Executive Director of City Operations for St. Louis Todd Waelterman is confident their effort will not be in vain.

"I am very confident and here's why," Waelterman tells Five On Your Side, "I am an old guy, I was part of '93. I was four years out of college and fresh into this. I spent 20 hours a day down here for six weeks during the '93 flood. I saw what we had. I can tell you what we're building now is better than what we had in '93."

In 1993, the River Des Peres crested at 39.5 ft, which is a whopping 3.5 ft over the current forecast. 

Neighbors are happy to have the busy construction right outside their doors, but are still wary of the rising river. 

RELATED: Winfield volunteers create a plywood wall along the Pin Oak Levee

RELATED: Calhoun County residents racing against time as floodwaters continue to rise

RELATED: Water overtops temporary barriers in West Alton, along Highway 67

RELATED: Volunteers needed as Lincoln County deals with near-record flooding

Before You Leave, Check This Out