Floodwaters Threaten Missouri, Illinois
Iowans Return To Waterlogged Homes And Business While Rivers Farther South Begin To Crest
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Workers pile sandbags atop a levee in an effort to hold back a rising Mississippi River June 17, 2008, in Canton, Mo. Officials in Canton said flood preparations would end Tuesday in anticipation of Wednesday's predicted 27.5 foot crest. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Keely Wells ferries bottles of liquor out of the Cedar Rapids Piano Lounge past drying bar stools and sand bags in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, June 17, 2008. Business owners were allowed downtown today to start the cleaning and inventory process. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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A pig who somehow floated or swam several miles from the flooded hog barns near Oakville, Iowa, walks on a portion of the levee to a sandbagged portion of levee near Kingston, Iowa, June 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
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The Mississippi River overflows its banks flooding a few buildings on the river front Tuesday, June 17, 2008, in Burlington, Iowa. The federal government predicts that 27 levees could potentially overflow along the river if the weather forecast is on the mark and a massive sandbagging effort fails to raise the level of the levees, according to a map obtained Monday by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (AP PHOTO)
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Pumps work overtime to keep water from the flooded Mississippi River from seeping into a building Tuesday, June 17, 2008, in Burlington, Iowa. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (AP PHOTO)
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Fighting Rising Water
As flood water rise, families are struggling to keep their homes dry in Antioch, Ill. The Fox River is getting higher and time is running out. Joanie Lum reports.
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Flood Victims Return Home
Evacuees in the Midwest are beginning to return to their homes to assess the damage caused by severe flooding. Hari Sreenivasan reports.
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Fight To Save Iowa Campus
Students and faculty from the University of Iowa are struggling to prevent rising flood waters from destroying the college campus. Hari Sreenivasan reports from the Hawkeye State.
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Midwest Floods
Powerful storms spawn deadly floods as rivers breach banks and levees.
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Floods & Droughts
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The breaches flooded farmland near the hamlet of Meyer, Ill. and south of there in the Indian Graves levee district, Adams County Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Julie Shepard said.
Meyer, a town of 40 to 50 people, had to be evacuated, and authorities patrolled the town Wednesday morning to make sure no one was left behind, she said.
Officials monitored levees in other Mississippi River towns in Illinois and Missouri in hopes that they would hold.
Meanwhile, House leaders announced a deal that paves the way for billions of dollars in emergency flood relief for the region.
In Clarksville, Missouri - a historic artists' town of 500 between St. Louis and Hannibal, Missouri - National Guard members, inmates and students were sandbagging. Five blocks were already swamped, but volunteers were doing their best to save buildings housing the shops of artisans and craftsmen.
"We fix one thing and it breaks," Mayor Jo Anne Smiley said. "Sewers are plugged up. We have leaks in walls and people who need things. We're boating in food to people."
What started as a rescue mission became 500,000 sandbags of salvation, reports CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers.
Even after a devastating flood in 1993, Clarksville residents refused to move to higher ground - to instead live up to its motto: "Touch the Mississippi."
They stayed despite intense pressure from the federal government which spent more than $4 billion in 12,000 flood mitigation projects that included buying up low-lying land and homes in dozens of counties across nine states, reports Bowers. Even with all that's been done, the levee systems remain vulnerable which leaves river towns with tough decisions.
Flooding that began about a week ago in eastern Iowa caused more than $1.5 billion in damage as it crept south toward the Mississippi. About 25,000 people in Cedar Rapids were forced from their homes, 19 buildings at the University of Iowa were flooded and water treatment plants in several cities were knocked out.
In addition to Clarksville, the floodwaters are also a problem for communities like Gulfport, Illinois.
Lois Russell was among those there who watched her house get inundated with water.
"What else am I going to do? Where else am I going to go?" said the 83-year-old Russell, who had lived in the white farmhouse for 57 years.
"I'm not going back after this one," Russell said as she watched water surround her house. It was the third time she had fled her home because of flooding since 1965.
"It was a good placed to raise my seven kids," she said, crying. "I know I haven't lost anything that feels important because I have a big family."
Authorities rescued people by helicopter, boat and four-wheeler on Tuesday after the river broke through a levee in Gulfport. Later in the week, the Mississippi is expected to threaten a host of others communities, leading officials to consider evacuation plans and begin sandbagging.
But even as the water threatened scores of homes and businesses, officials said the damage could have been worse if the federal government had not purchased low-lying land after historic floods in 1993 that caused $12 billion in damage.
Since then, the government bought out more than 9,000 homeowners, turning much of the land into parks and undeveloped areas that can be allowed to flood with less risk. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has moved or flood-proofed about 30,000 properties. The effort required whole communities to be moved.Do You Need Disaster Insurance?
In Iowa, FEMA spent $1.6 million to buy out residents of Elkport, population 80, and then knock down the village's remaining buildings. Some residents moved to Garber, Elkport's twin city across the Turkey River, but others abandoned the area.
The federal government bought about a quarter of the homes in Chelsea, Iowa, after the 1993 floods, but most of the 300 residents stayed. At least 10 homes are now inundated by the Iowa River to their first floors.
Residents take it in stride, said Mayor Roger Ochs.
"For the most part, it's another flood," he said. "For Chelsea, it's more of an inconvenience."
On Tuesday, people were urged to evacuate an area near Gulfport as floodwaters threatened about 12 square miles of farmland. Henderson County Deputy Sheriff Donald Seitz said a major highway could be under 10 feet of water by midday Wednesday.
Reports of raw sewage and farm runoff in floodwaters raised concerns about public health. But experts said most people are smart enough to avoid the tainted water.
On the Iowa side of the river, a sandbagging operation was moved south to the outskirts of Burlington after floodwaters streamed across state Highway 99.
Oakville Apostolic Church "is now an island," said Carly Wagenbach, who was taking food to levee workers.
Officials were also concerned about the integrity of a levee that protects a drainage area south of Oakville.
"It's outrageous," said Steve Poggemiller. "We're hanging on by a thread - or a sandbag."
Jeff Campbell, a farmer carrying sandbags on his four-wheeler, said he spotted pigs swimming away from a flooded hog farm near Oakville. They were climbing a levee, poking holes in the plastic that covered it, he said.
One tired pig was lying at the bottom of the levee "like a pink sandbag," Campbell said.
Reports of raw sewage and farm runoff in floodwaters raised concerns about public health. But experts said most people are smart enough to avoid the tainted water.
"Typically we don't see the outbreaks of diseases that people fear," said Mike Allred of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The rising water forced the closure of the Mississippi bridge in Burlington and stopped car traffic on the bridge in Fort Madison. The bridge's railroad tracks remained open. A bridge downriver in Keokuk also remained open.
To the north in Cedar Rapids, floodwaters had dropped enough that officials let hundreds of people return to their damaged homes and businesses.
"It's obviously much more shocking when you walk in the door for the first time and see what happened," said Amy Wyss, watching sullenly as a giant blower was used to dry out her upscale wine bar, Zins. "I don't think you can be prepared for this, even if you think you are."
The National Weather Service expects crests this week along some Mississippi River communities near St. Louis to come close to those of the historic 1993 floods.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Did you say prayer or payer? The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that after 30 years of ''supply-side'' economics, our civil infrastructure needs $1.6 trillion in immediate spending just to come up to CODE!! That''s about $2 trillion less than your boy W is sending to Iraq, and about $3 trillion less than he''s increased the national debt by.
God helps them that help themselves. And believe me, by the time W is done helping HIMSELF, there''ll be nothing left for your levees.
Posted by faith_in_w at 01:21 PM : Jun 17, 2008
The true God knows what people need and one thing for sure he knows we don''t need is another nut case who believes in war of vanity.
Plus you didn''t want to pay to keep it up so God is punishing you and yours right?
Posted by messiahx4eve at 03:11 PM : Jun 17, 2008"
Prez. flatly refused aid from other countries at Katrina time. And 65% of National guards and their resources stuck in Iraq, it is going to be interesting to see how FEMA is going to respond.
Come fall corn and foods items are going to be really expensive.
Prez. can you please give no bid contracts for reconstruction to KBR/Halliburton for the mid west flood affected areas ?
Posted by faith_in_w
Where did all this water come from????? The same god you ask to hold the levees??? You put the fox in the hen house and pray to god you have chickens in the morning? Lots of good people were killed by your gods antics flooding before. Guess noah and his family were the only good people around. Or what ever??? Heard a tv preacher say the other day if jesus is not in your wallet he can''t be in your heart. Pretty well sums it up for me. Is this the same god King George II gets his visions and brain toots from? LOLLOLLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by whimsy52
Is there some place we can send donations to make sure diapers, formula, and necessary items are gotten for citizens. Red Cross etc: have way to many high paid administrators to really get needed item for people.
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Posted by bozworth4 at 05:19 PM : Jun 17, 2008
You might try checking with your local churches and see if they are taking donations there. They are alot more reliable than any other agencys. I''m sure anything you would like to send here would be greatly appreciated.
The average Red-State gets three times as much from the Federal Government (per dollar sent to the Feds in taxes), as the average Blue-State.
But lullaby me, once again, with that sweet fiction of the corn-fed midwesterners and their bootstraps capitalism. Ah, that''s a fine, romantic myth to these old ears...
Yours perhaps?
Yours perhaps?
Posted by erasmus81 at 07:42 PM
"You shure got a purty mouth.
Now squeal like a pig."
btw, the post was in reference to the 2nd photo
in the article.
FLOOD OF TEARS..
Posted by onlythereal at 10:05 PM : Jun 17, 2008
I live in Iowa. In 1993 we received help from one other country. The help came in the form of thousands of sandbags. The country? Bangladesh.
Regards
Posted by rosesnpearls
Of course there''s a difference. NO was hit with a powerful hurricane that caused widespread damage. Try doing a mandatory evacuation of a city of several thousand compared to these small towns of 50 to 500. You''re right, idiots will stay behind, but to blame the democrats is ignorant. Handling that situation was not as easy and straight forward as you think.
Posted by faith_in_w at 11:56 AM : Jun 18, 2008
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You''ve got to be kidding.
Has anyone notified FEMA?
I have not seen Bu$h in the sky over Illinois yet....
What is making the levees hold up so poorly?
When can the flood victims finally go home?
Why does this happen as the economy is crumbling?
And most importantly:
WHERE is Tim Russert when we REALLY, REALLY need him?
Grizzster
thats because Dumbya was in Europe,
then he had to attend that Funeral for Russert,
he is much too busy, to worry about the overal average Joe,
thats what FEMA is for.....
My name is Global Warming and my job is to end world civilization as we know it today. Please continue to delay passing an Energy policy that does not depend on Fossil Fuel. I love my amigo and VP D. Cheney for passing an Energy policy 7 years ago with the help of my profit colleagues the Oil Companies. Too bad Cheney has to leave his office on 20-Jan-2009. I was planning a bigger flooding next year with his help. Please learn how to swim in the meantime.
Huh???? Global cooling??? Have you been paying attention to anything in your life?
"It''''s a sign of global cooling but shhh don''''t tell anyone."
SSSHhhh, global cooling is causing the ince in the north and south poles to melt. Do not tell anyone especially to Al Gore - SSSSSHHhhh.
Led Zeppelin''s song pretty much summed it up:
"If it keeps on rainin'', the levee''s gonna break,
When the levee breaks, I''ll have no place to stay"
This technology was used on 9/11.
AMAZING how the "planes" that "hit" the WTC altered the earth''s magnetic field, isn''t it???
http://drjudywood.com/articles/erin/erin5.html
Those plane-shaped holes were created with directed energy weapons.
Have you ever been to a greenhouse? Are they warmer than the place called outside? Global warming is the same idea. The CO2 laden atmosphere is trapping the heat the same way. Class over. Or, picture a car in the sun, is it warmer inside?
These guys have a point. Seems a bit odd that all this flooding is happening so close to rivers. How come the water isn''t IN the river? Because the conspirators TOLD it not stay between the banks , that''s why. Things don''t just happen, there''s a man made cause for everything. Ok, so do you buy this whole "moon just happened to be in the sky" theory? The government put it there to use as a base for spying on us. Where''s my tin foil hat?
SSSHHHhhh! Since it your claim, where can I see online real time satellite data which shows both the ice caps back. I promised to keep this secret and not to share it with Al Gore and all the fools of the world. SSSHHHhhh!
SSSHHHhhh! Since it your claim, where can I see online real time satellite data which shows both the ice caps back. I promised to keep this a secret and not to share it with Al Gore and all the fools, idiots and low IQ of the world. SSSHHHhhh!
Cops break down doors, threaten residents who question them as part of martial law conditioning, authorities prevent people from re-entering their homes.
Shocking footage out of Cedar Rapids Iowa shows cops and government employee "strike teams" breaking into houses of flood victims and threatening anyone who questions their actions in complete violation of the 4th amendment right that protects against unlawful search and seizure.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/june2008/061808_strike_teams.htm
Search time one minute, you must of tried reaal hard. They don''t have that info on green peace, Hint they are not into truth just keeping the money coming. You got to love people like you who use other people%u2019s misery to promote ignorant fear mongering. Now run back drink your kool aid have mommy change your diaper and come up with real debate info. ROFLMAF
"What else am I going to do? Where else am I going to go?" said the 83-year-old Russell, who had lived in the white farmhouse for 57 years.
"I''m not going back after this one," Russell said"
Oh right, she''s 83 for pete''s sake, like she''s going to live long enough to see another flood like this ever again if she went back.
Posted by faith_in_w
LOL prayers don''t work though! I kept pray that our resident village idiot singinrick would get ground up by his mower but every week he''s back in here and Bush still hasn''t had engine failure in airforce one yet.
May as well talk to the LAWN for all the good prayer does.
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Posted by Louiville2 at 09:03 PM : Jun 18, 2008
+ report abuse
Why do you fascist think this is necessary! The poster asked you to produce evidence that the Ice Caps WERE NOT melting and you do this. It''s FASCISM 101... I mean stuff EVERY Klan Member learns in their FIRST year of developing hate targets... If your going to be a real fascist you MUST do better than this... I mean YOU have little hope of becoming a Bootlicker First Class, with responses like this... NO CHANCE sparky!! SIEG HEIL BUSH! Dumb as a box of rocks folks!!
Posted by faith_in_W
Hey stranger things have happened. If he can keep terrorists at bay, no telling what else he might be able to do like lift the ban on drilling.
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by faith_in_w
June 19, 2008 9:58 AM PDT
- mudrose, the victory goes to the arc builders.
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