With more than a dozen people killed by floodwaters and rivers still rising, weary Midwesterners on Thursday weighed not just the prospect of a sodden cleanup but the likelihood that their communities could be inundated again.
The first day of spring brought much-needed sunshine to some flooded communities, but many swelling rivers were not expected to crest until the weekend in Arkansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, southern Indiana and Kentucky.
The worst flooding happened in smaller rivers across the nation's midsection. Major channels such as the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio rivers saw only minor flooding.
Parts of Missouri got 30cm of rain over a 36-hour period this week, causing widespread flash flooding and swelling many rivers.
Five deaths have been confirmed in Missouri and hundreds of people were forced from their homes. Many families will return to find their property badly damaged or destroyed, officials said.
Levee breaches in southeast Missouri forced hundreds of people from their homes and left many major roadways damaged and impassable.
US President George W. Bush declared a major disaster in Missouri on Wednesday night and ordered federal agencies to assist state and local authorities in flooded areas.
The Black, Big and St Francis rivers in Missouri were also expected to flood significantly. Minor flooding was predicted on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
At least 16 deaths have been linked to the weather over the past few days and at least two people were missing.
Searchers in Texas recovered a body on Thursday in waist-deep water that matched the description of a teenager who was washed down a drainage pipe, but hadn't confirmed it was him.
Two people were missing on Thursday in Arkansas after their vehicles were swept away by rushing water on Tuesday.
Government weather forecasters warned on Thursday that some flooding could continue in the coming days because of record rainfall and melting snow packs across much of the Midwest and Northeast.
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