News Release 385

Department of Natural Resources provides cleanup guidance following recent flooding

Volume 38-385 (For Immediate Release)
Contact:  Renee Bungart
573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JUNE 29, 2010 – As floodwaters eventually recede in areas of Missouri inundated by heavy spring rains and swollen rivers, residents throughout the flood-affected areas will have to deal with water-damaged homes, compromised wells and a list of other challenges that flowed in with the water.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has updated its Natural Disaster Resources webpage -- dnr.mo.gov/disaster.htm -- to provide community leaders, emergency responders and individuals with a convenient location to find an extensive list of fact sheets to aid in the cleanup and recovery from recent floods.

The department has several publications and facts sheets available on the Web to help people clean up homes and communities affected by the floods or other natural disasters. The disaster information includes some of the following documents:

Visit dnr.mo.gov/disaster.htm for publications and fact sheets and dnr.mo.gov/psa/index.html#disaster for public service announcements on disaster assistance. If the fact sheets and documents do not address your questions or communities and residents are unable to access the Web, please call the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827.

Residents should contact their public water supply directly for further information and consult the local news media for notification when any health advisories have been issued or lifted.  The local water supplier has the most up-to-date information about problems in the area, such as broken water mains, low water pressure or any other possible sources of contamination.  As long as adequate water pressure has been maintained through the flood, people should need only to flush their water pipes.

However, if any area has lost water pressure for any period of time, residents should boil their water for drinking for three minutes.  Residents should continue boiling their water until notified that samples have been taken proving the water is safe to drink. If residents need additional information or cannot reach their water supply representative, call the department’s Public Drinking Water Branch at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5331 or your nearest regional office at

Individuals using private wells that may have been flooded should follow boil order procedures, which are available from their local public health agency.

The department is also working with wastewater treatment facilities as necessary to advise on possible wastewater bypassing from the flooding.  Facilities may need to bypass or shut down a treatment system or tributary sewer system where unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury or property damages; or where excessive storm drainage or runoff would damage any facilities or processes necessary for compliance with effluent limitations and conditions of a facility’s permit.  Facilities are required to take all reasonable measures to avoid a bypass or shutdown.  However, if one occurs a facility must notify the department by telephone within 24 hours and follow up with a written report with five days of all bypasses or shutdowns. 

For more information or questions on environmental concerns, contact the Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-361-4827 or contact one of the department’s regional offices in your area.   The additional information on the regional offices, visit the department’s website at dnr.mo.gov/regions/regions.htm.

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