Devil’s Elbow ravaged by flooding

Flooding across mid-Missouri has affected many towns, but none more than the Route 66 hamlet of Devil’s Elbow.

According to the Waynesville Daily Guide, residents of Devil’s Elbow were asked to evacuate by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The rising Big Piney River overwhelmed the town.

The photo at top by Pulaski County Emergency Management, via Facebook, shows the historic Miller’s Market building (center) and other buildings in Devil’s Elbow inundated by floodwaters. Miller’s Market also serves as the town’s post office.

Below is a photo by Angie Hale, via Facebook, of the flooded Elbow Inn restaurant and bar.

Water also is flowing over the deck of the recently restored Devil’s Elbow Bridge.

According to hydrology reports from the National Weather Service, the Big Piney River on Sunday morning had already exceeded the record flooding level by almost four feet, and the water still was rising at the time.

The bad news comes days after the Devil’s Elbow Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Devil’s Elbow is a river town, and it’s endured flooding before. But a flood this historically bad can’t be good for those historic structures.

Other mid-Missouri towns on Route 66 affected by the flooding included Waynesville, where rising floodwaters Sunday were threatening to overwhelm the historic Roubidoux Creek Bridge. Fortunately, hydrology reports show the creek fell short of a record flood, and the waters were receding late Sunday.

The rising Gasconade River also overflowed the deck of the historic Gasconade River Bridge, which is closed to traffic, but preservationists hope it eventually can be used as a pedestrian or cycling bridge. Photo is by M. Kate Sutter, via Facebook.

Hydrology reports late Sunday showed the river had exceeded the flood record by almost five feet.

Let’s hope the bridge holds up; rushing floodwaters can put a lot of strain on old bridges, and it’s the second time in 15 months the span has experienced this.

The Meramec River had exceeded record flood levels in Sullivan and may threaten the record at Pacific and Valley Park this week.

The Spring River at Carthage reached moderate flooding levels and is going down. The James River in Springfield approached a record but is receding.

Not even the interstates are safe from flooding. Interstate 44, which shadows much of Route 66 in Missouri, remained closed to traffic in three places and may not reopen until Tuesday

In northeast Oklahoma, the Miami News-Record reports damage in the Route 66 town of Afton from strong winds and flooding all over the region.

Those driving on Route 66 may find it tough traveling in Missouri and northeast Oklahoma for the next week or so.

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