Dr. Mathison on Eureka Flooding

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Media by Dr. Greg Mathison

Dr. Greg Mathison, principal, stands in front of the sandbag wall in Eureka. Mathison and other Eureka residents have been working to build the wall since rain started on Saturday, April 29.

For Dr. Greg Mathison, MHS principal, Eureka’s record flooding is a familiar affair.

Since Saturday, the citizens of Eureka have been plagued by storms which have flooded the Meramec River to new levels. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the river is expected to crest at 46 feet by 1 a.m. Wednesday.

The flooding has partially submerged highways I-44 as well as Missouri 109, leading to a widespread district school cancellations for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Dr. Mathison, a citizen of Eureka, is now witnessing the community’s second “superflood” since 2015.

“You’re talking about mother nature here,” Dr. Mathison said. “These floods really should not be happening a year and a half apart. Statistically speaking, it should be a hundred year flood.”

Dr. Mathison said he takes immense pride in the attitude of the Eureka community. Citizens from all over the United State including Missouri Governor Eric Greitens, who helped sandbag on Monday, and President Donald Trump have reached out to offer support for the city.

“I live in Eureka so I’ve been doing sandbagging the last few nights,” Dr. Mathison said. “It’s a mess down here. It’s amazing to see how many people are here from different places. Whether it’s at Eureka high school or in downtown Eureka.”

Dr. Mathison said teachers and staff have reached out to him to brainstorm ways to provide necessary goods for those affected by the floods.

“I’ve had a number of our staff ask me what we can do as a school once we get back to either fundraise or buy either toiletries or other things people need that we know from the last flood,” Dr. Mathison said. “I’m working with Ms. Doyle and Mrs. Hobbes to try and figure out once we get back, how we can help mobilize our student body to help in any way we can.”