May 1, 1996
The Mississippi River was above flood stage all month at Cape Girardeau. It crested at 40.6 feet on May 17, which is 8.6 feet over flood stage at Cape Girardeau. Most of the damage was to cropland. A small levy against backwater in the New Madrid Floodway failed on May 14, flooding many acres of corn and wheat. The Corps of Engineers went into Phase II floodfighting. Crop damage estimates were not assessed yet. Minor property damage was mostly to roads and parks. The floodgates were lowered in C
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 5554979). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.
This event is one of many recorded floods in Perry County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.