Kim Morris/St. Joseph News-Press

Waters had receded less than 2 feet from the high water marks by midday Tuesday in Agency, Mo. High water still forced the closure of Routes FF and H as well as several city streets.

Emergency officials breathed easier Tuesday as the region’s swollen rivers began the steady process of settling back within their banks.

Buchanan County Emergency Management Director Bill Brinton told the News-Press he’s no longer concerned about flood conditions at Agency, Mo., where a nearby gauge on the Platte River measured slightly below 26 feet at mid-afternoon.

Mr. Brinton said he checked the river at 9 p.m. Monday and saw that it was declining in comparison to recent days.

“It’s not even close” to posing a threat to the town, he said of his observation.

He reported no other current flooding concerns in the county. The National Weather Service continued flood warnings for Buchanan, western Andrew and Holt counties until midday today.

The river level at St. Joseph was barely more than 24 feet late Tuesday afternoon, the weather service said. Officials said the latest stage forecast calls for the river to remain steady at St. Joseph through this evening.

Meanwhile, Andrew County Emergency Management Director Roger Latham said the 102 River at Rosendale, Mo., also has declined. The river level was 16 feet Tuesday morning, 2 feet below flood stage.

“Everybody’s back in their homes,” Mr. Latham said.

In fact, there was not enough public interest to justify keeping emergency shelters open at Rosendale and Amazonia, Mo., he added. Those shelters had been prepared in cooperation with the Midland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross.

The Nodaway River at Nodaway, Mo., Mr. Latham said, will remain high as long as the Missouri River exceeds 19 feet. Missouri River backwater will continue to plague the area as well, the weather service said.

The county will not begin to assess damage until the water goes down, Mr. Latham said.

Elsewhere, the weather service said the Missouri River reached nearly 28.5 feet at Atchison, Kan., at noon Tuesday. The Tarkio River near Fairfax measured just over 14 feet in the afternoon, about 3 feet below flood stage.

The Missouri Department of Transportation continues to monitor roads that were closed due to flooding. Spokeswoman Elaine Justus said eight roads in the agency’s District One remained closed in the agency’s District 1.

“They’re working on (Missouri) Route FF” south of St. Joseph, she said. “But it’s still closed.”

Other closings include Routes C, MM, and H in Buchanan County; Route T in Andrew County; U.S. Highway 59 in Atchison County; Missouri Highway 111 in Holt County; and Missouri Highway 46 in Nodaway County.

Ray Scherer can be reached at rscherer@npgco.com.