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| A whirlpool that was reported Sunday near the south end of the Tennemo levee shows the structure has been breached, allowing the Mississippi River to cross under the protection. |
The search continued today for the body of a Caruthersville man whose body disappeared into the Mississippi River backwater late Friday night.
The man, John Owens, 38, was reportedly driving a Jeep near the flooded area about a mile south of Caruthersville near the Tennessee-Missouri 1-155 bridge when the current pulled the vehicle into deep water.
Family members said Owens's jeep had a body lift package that elevated the vehicle on extra-large tires.
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| Water runs north over Highway 104 this morning. |
The Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department alerted the Dyer County Rescue Squad at about 9 a.m. Sunday. Rescue agencies from Lake and Lauderdale counties in Tennessee, and Mississippi County in Arkansas, were also alerted to assist with the search.
Search teams were assisted with helicopters, search dogs and sonar equipment to help find the body.
The drowning is suspected to have occurred in an area locally known as Chute 16, a spot about a mile north of the bridge on the east side of the Missouri levee.
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| A farmer on Bradley Road readies to move equipment. |
The search operation was suspended overnight and restarted this morning.
Owens worked at Trinity Marine in Caruthersville. The search started after family and friends were unable to locate his whereabouts on Friday.
Massive piles of dirt were placed on roadways in western Dyer County near the flooded lands to keep sightseers from entering the dangerous areas.
The Dyer County Highway Department placed a dirt barrier at Highway 103 and the Great River Road and on Bunge Road at the request of Sheriff Jeff Holt.
The Sheriff's Department last week had placed five "no entry" signs warning motorists to stay away from the roads in the flooded areas. On Sunday, all were gone, taken by persons unknown.
A large culvert beneath the Tennemo levee broke loose on Sunday, prompting concern from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about the integrity of the structure.
The telltale whirlpool of a damaged levee was spotted about 3:12 p.m., said a Dyer County Sheriff's report, after a deputy saw water running beneath the levee.
The crest of the Mississippi River flood is still expected to occur on Friday at the Caruthersville gauge at 41 feet.
Flood stage is 32 feet. The stage was 39 feet on Monday morning.
The National Weather Service on Sunday added the caveat that additional rises many be possible after Friday.
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May God bless the Owens family.
Why does anyone remove the "no entry" signs? Some people have no regard for the safety of others and apparently nothing beneficial to do with their time. Shame on them!
If Jeff finds out who removed the signs I certainly hope the courts will punish them. This is so dangerous and could cause the death of anyone not familar with the area.
If anyone knows the name of the people who removed these "no entry" signs please call the Sherriff's office.
TO PATRIOTSFAN & SAINT PAUL. I HATE TO BUST YOUR BUBBLE BUT THE SHERIFF'S DEPT DID SHOW UP. THE DEPUTY WAS THERE BEFORE THE OWNER OF THRUCK EVEN SHOWED UP. HE (THE DEPUTY) COULD ONLY GO SO FAR IN A CROWN VIC. THE WATER WAS TO HIGH AND TO DANGEROUS FOR ANYONE TO BE IN IT. COMMON SENSE WOULD TELL ANYONE THAT IF THERE IS WATER OVER THE ROAD THAT MEANS IT IS DANGEROUS!!! SO BEFORE ANYONE DOGS OUT THE SHERIFF'S DEPT (OR ANY OTHER LAWENFORCEMENT AGENCIES) GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT. THESE GUYS RISK THEIR LIVES EVERYDAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF DYER COUNTY AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS PUT THEM DOWN. HOW ABOUT YOU BOTH GET OUT IN A PATROL CAR AND DO WHAT THESE GUYS DO EVERYDAY!!!
Amen, babygirl1977!