ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: We begin today in the Mideast -- in the Midwest, excuse me, where floodwaters have killed at least two people in eastern Missouri and forced hundreds from their homes. More than a foot of rain fell on the east-central region early this morning. The hardest hit areas are Washington, Missouri, St. Clair and Union. The National Guard will help with cleanup and rescues in Franklin County, just west of St. Louis. CNN's Allard Beutel has more on the flooding.</s>ALLARD BEUTEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a lot of rain in not a lot of time. Some communities west of St. Louis, Missouri, received as much as 14 inches of rain Sunday morning. Hundreds of people were forced to evacuate their homes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My sister called about 5:00, asked me if I'd come in and help get things out of her house because it's flooded.</s>BEUTEL: The deluge surprised some residents with a wall of water that flooded house s and washed away cars and trailer homes. Flash flood warnings were posted for several counties. Swollen rivers and creeks closed roads, including parts of Interstate 44 west of St. Louis. National Guard units were mobilized to assist with evacuations, while Red Cross and Salvation Army teams provided emergence aid. Authorities continue searching for possible flood victims, and Franklin County officials are asking people to loan them their personal watercraft to help with damage assessment. The storm that hit eastern Missouri came from the same weather system that flooded parts of Oklahoma Saturday. Forecasters say area rivers and tributaries aren't expected to crest for several days, but the worst of the flooding from this storm is likely over. Allard Beutel, CNN.
Floodwaters Force Hundreds from their Homes in Missouri