Optimism that Flooding Won't Hit Brentwood, But Prepared if it Does

As the remnants of Hurricane Isaac passes over St. Louis, ’s director of Public Works, Jim Nahmensen, said he doesn’t expect major flooding.

“The Meramec is empty, the Mississippi is empty, the Missouri River, they’re all empty right now so they could use some good run-off,” he said. “If it keeps up like this, and we get a couple downpours, I think we’ll be fine.”

He said it was different in 2008, when flooding occurred, because the ground was already saturated, then five inches of rain fell in three hours.

He said there might be flash-flooding on Manchester Road and Russell Avenue, where it usually does in a heavy rain.

“The staff is ready, even though it’s a holiday weekend,” he said. “And I’ll probably spend most of my weekend sitting down here at the garage. It’s just what we do.”

Assistant fire chief Terry Kurten said the department has already sent out warnings through the Code Red system to residents and businesses in flood-prone areas .

“People are really paying attention and doing a good job,” he said. “If this occurs over a short period of time if could be a problem, on the other hand, may be a lot of nothing.”