Gateway/Meramec River
Meramec River
The river that runs through south St. Louis County to the Mississippi, its record floods in 2015 and 2017, and what Meramec floodwater means for cleanup and insurance.
| Location | Eastern Missouri |
|---|---|
| Mouth | Mississippi River, near Arnold |
| Communities along it | Sullivan, Pacific, Eureka, Valley Park, Fenton, Kirkwood, Sunset Hills, Arnold |
| Record crests | December 2015 at Eureka, Valley Park and Arnold (National Weather Service) |
Course
The Meramec River rises in the Missouri Ozarks and flows northeast and then east for more than 200 miles to join the Mississippi River south of St. Louis near Arnold. Its major tributaries include the Bourbeuse River and the Big River. In the St. Louis area it forms much of the southern edge of St. Louis County and runs past Pacific, Eureka, Valley Park, Fenton, Kirkwood, Sunset Hills and Arnold.
Floods of 2015 and 2017
Heavy rain at the end of December 2015, about 9 to 10 inches over a few days southwest of St. Louis, sent the Meramec to record crests. The National Weather Service recorded new records of 46.06 feet near Eureka, 44.11 feet at Valley Park and 47.26 feet near Arnold. Interstate 44 was closed at Valley Park and Interstate 55 near Arnold, and damage across the region was expected to top $1 billion. In late April and early May 2017 the river flooded again, cresting near the 2015 levels in Eureka and Valley Park.
What river floodwater means for cleanup
River floodwater is Category 3 water under the IICRC S500 standard: it carries sewage, soil, fuel and chemicals. Drywall, insulation, carpet and other porous materials it soaked are usually removed (often with a flood cut above the waterline), and the structure is cleaned, disinfected and dried to a measured dry standard. Mold can begin within 24 to 48 hours, so starting drying quickly matters even when the river is still receding.
Insurance
Damage from a river overflowing is flood, which standard homeowners policies exclude. It is covered only by an NFIP or private flood policy, which usually needs to have been in place for 30 days before the flood. Check the flood map for any property near the Meramec, and see National Flood Insurance Program for what a policy pays in a basement.
Key takeaways
- The Meramec set record crests at Eureka, Valley Park and Arnold in December 2015.
- River floodwater is Category 3: porous materials it touched are removed, not just dried.
- Only flood insurance covers river flooding, and new policies usually wait 30 days.
Related glossary terms
Related services and guides
- Basement flooding cleanup
- Storm damage restoration
- Basement flooding in Kirkwood
- Basement flooding in Sunset Hills
- Basement water in Greater St. Louis: flood, sewer backup or sump failure (PDF white paper)
Identifiers
References
- National Weather Service St. Louis: December 2015 flooding summary
- Washington University: Record Missouri flooding
- Wikipedia: Meramec River
Reviewed by Jake Lusby, owner of Gateway Water & Mold. Part of our entity reference pages. See our editorial policy to report an error.
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