Page declares state of emergency in St. Louis County as Meramec begins to flood

CLAYTON — St. Louis County Executive Sam Page declared a state of emergency Thursday after record-breaking rainfall fueled flash flooding across the St. Louis region this week.

The declaration allows the county to request state and federal help, and comes ahead of more "major" flooding expected Friday as the Meramec River and its tributary, the Big River, swell with recent rainfall.

Flooding along the Meramec River has already started in Pacific in the county's southwest corner. Valley Park and Eureka, and parts of St. Louis County and Jefferson County are also expected to flood.

Flooding on Tuesday killed two people in south St. Louis County and caused damage to homes, roads, bridges and parks, Page said.

The county executive urged people not to drive through water.

"It can take just a few inches of moving water to carry away a vehicle," Page said in a statement.

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St. Louis County government reporter