Clinton Declares Flood Disaster in Three States

The bloated Mississippi river surged inland Saturday, unhindered by failed levees along much of its Missouri side, and President Clinton declared flood-ravaged sections of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri major disaster areas.

Still more heavy rain fell across parts of the upper Mississippi Valley, with eight inches recorded Friday night and Saturday morning in Kansas City, Mo., where raging waters from the Missouri and Kansas rivers flooded homes and buildings, trapping some people inside. More rain was forecast for today.

Several people were rescued Saturday from businesses and restaurants along one boulevard on the west side of Kansas City, Mo.

To reach people stranded at Margarita’s restaurant, firefighters extended a 100-foot aerial ladder from an overpass on Interstate 35 to the roof of the building, Fire Capt. Christopher Bosch said.

“The water was probably eight feet deep there,” Bosch said. “It was, how should I put this, interesting.”

In Kansas City, Kan., 276 families were evacuated from a flooded mobile home park near the Kansas River. Water four feet deep flowed through the city’s Kemper Arena.

In other states, scores of levees lining various rivers collapsed, including one that gave way in Niota, Ill., Saturday night, sending the Mississippi flowing over farmland and into the city of 400 people.