### St. Louis Faces Severe Flooding Amid Record Rainfall and Election Day Disruptions

Unprecedented rainfall has led to widespread flash flooding across St. Louis on Tuesday, significantly impacting daily life as Election Day began. The city recorded its highest-ever rainfall for a 24-hour period in November, with persistent rain forecasted until the afternoon.

The deluge has severely disrupted public transportation and resulted in numerous road closures. Metro Transit reported over a dozen bus routes halted during the peak of the morning commute. Though some services resumed by 9 a.m., many areas remained difficult to access. Road closures were reported in Maplewood, Creve Coeur, Rock Hill, and multiple parts of St. Louis near the River Des Peres.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department attended several emergencies involving vehicles trapped in floodwaters at intersections like Skinker Boulevard and Olive Street, along with River Des Peres and Gravois Avenue. According to Captain Garon Patrick Mosby of the St. Louis Fire Department, firefighters had responded to 18 such incidents by noon, fortunately without any reported injuries.

Power outages added another layer of chaos, affecting two polling places crucial for the ongoing elections. Christ Southern Missionary Baptist Church on Page Boulevard experienced a morning blackout, prompting officials to guide voters to the Better Family Life community center. Similarly, Holy Name Community Center in Bellefontaine Neighbors dealt with an outage, though voting continued with a generator. Ameren, the power company, worked to restore electricity, reducing the number of affected customers from 9,700 to roughly 3,000 by early afternoon.

In Cahokia Heights and East St. Louis, residents faced severe flooding, with some needing to evacuate. The area received over 7 inches of rain in 48 hours, exacerbating existing stormwater and sewer issues. Efforts were underway to pump water and assist residents, but concerns about voting accessibility remained.

The rainfall event is part of a broader pattern of increasingly extreme weather, attributed to climate change. Meteorologist Melissa Delia from the National Weather Service noted that while single events can't be directly linked, the frequency and intensity of such rainfall are increasing. St. Louis shattered its previous daily and monthly November rainfall records, underscoring the severity of the situation.

Despite the adversities, residents showed resilience, with many determined to cast their votes. Election officials praised voter adaptability and the legal flexibility allowing them to vote at any polling location in such emergencies. The floodwaters began receding by late morning, rendering a semblance of normalcy.