By EDWARD HUSAR

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

The city of Quincy has declared a "state of emergency" while Adams County has declared a "state of disaster" as local governments begin mobilizing for the region's biggest flood-fighting effort since 1993.

With the latest National Weather Service forecasts now predicting a Mississippi River crest of 29.9 feet in Quincy next Wednesday -- just 2.3 feet below the record level set in 1993 -- the city of Quincy announced plans to launch a sand-bagging effort, probably starting Friday but definitely taking place Saturday and Sunday.

Mayor John Spring said the sandbagging will take place at the parking lot on the south side of the Oakley Lindsay-Center. In case of bad weather, the sandbagging operation will move inside the OLC.

Volunteers from throughout the community will be asked to help pitch in. Spring said this effort will be directed at providing sandbags for "wherever they're needed" in the region. However, the immediate focus will be on fortifying the levees protecting local industries near Quincy's riverfront and the Fabius River Drainage District.

The Fabius levee protects the U.S. 24 highway approaches to both Quincy Memorial Bridge and Quincy Bayview Bridge -- a key transportation link for this region. Keeping bridges open so commerce can continue moving between Missouri and Illinois is a major priority, Spring said.

City Engineer Jeff Steinkamp said late this morning that the Illinois Department of Transportation may close Memorial Bridge as early as Friday. Floodwater could top a dip in the road immediately west of the bridge, which ordinarily carries eastbound traffic into Illinois, when the river reaches the 28-foot mark.

Once Memorial Bridge is closed, Bayview Bridge, which normally carries westbound traffic, will be converted to two-way traffic.

Transportation officials said there are no plans close the bridge in Hannibal, Mo., which was built after the 1993 flood and was purposely positioned higher. It would take a break in the Sny levee for the Illinois approach to be in any danger, officials said.

Spring said one of the city's major priorities will be the protection of the city's water filtration intake facility along the riverfront. "That's critical," he said. He said the city's Central Services Department will begin an intensive sand-bagging effort at the water filtration plant today.

In the 1993 flood, the water filtration plant -- bolstered with sandbags -- withstood the river's highest crest, "but just barely," Spring said.

He said the latest crest prediction of nearly 30 feet "is a high concern for us."

Spring declared the state of emergency so he would have authority to direct city crews to whatever task is needed for the safe operation and maintenance of the city. This step also is needed to make sure the city is not infringing upon any union contracts involving workers.

Adams County Board Chairman Mike McLaughlin declared the state of disaster on Wednesday. He said it was prompted by an additional rise in the crest prediction for next week.

County resources are now being dispatched to support the flood-fighting effort. The declaration also directs the Adams County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) to coordinate response efforts.

The EMA worked in cooperation with the Indian Grave Drainage District to set up a sandbagging operation on the Shaffer farm on the Ursa blacktop (North 2150th Avenue), just west of the North Bottom Road (East 603rd Lane).

This effort started Wednesday and is continuing today. Volunteers who will help fill sandbags needed by the county's levee districts are asked to wear sturdy boots and bring gloves and sunscreen.

Businesses that wish to donate goods or services are encouraged to call the United Way office at 222-2050 before sending anything.

Officials from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Office of Water Resources met this morning with local government officials at Quincy Regional Airport to map out some coordinated efforts.

Spring said the city has put in a request for sandbags from the state, and 50,000 bags were on their way immediately. However, to put that number in perspective, Spring noted that in the 1993, the city's sandbagging site alone filled 3 million bags, while volunteers at Gardner-Denver filled about 1 million.

U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, D-17, announced he has contacted the Illinois National Guard to ask that the force be prepared to release manpower and resources if necessary to help with the flood-fighting effort in area communities.

"It is absolutely critical that we are prepared in case floodwaters reach critical levels in our area," Hare said.

Flood-fighting continues on the Missouri side of the river as well. Sandbagging has been taking place in LaGrange, and Canton officials are closely monitoring the rising river.

The flood gates along Route B in Canton were installed Wednesday, said Randy Shubert, MoDOT's maintenance superintendent for Clark and Lewis counties.

Shubert said water was lapping along the shoulder of U.S. 61 near Alexandria, and he expected MoDOT officials would probably close that road sometime today as the water begins covering the pavement. Traffic to and from Iowa will be rerouted.

-- ehusar@whig.com/221-3378