NATIONAL GUARD: Towns along the northern Mississippi River have spent the last few weeks cleaning up and recovering from massive flooding. The river's crest heads south now as towns try valiantly—and in some cases, ineffectually—to protect their homes and businesses.

As the swollen Mississippi River travels south, it continues to overwhelm levees and flood towns. Saturday morning it broke through a sandbag wall the Missouri National Guard had spent 20 hours building in Winfield, Mo., forcing residents to evacuate about 100 homes. The river's crest reaches St. Louis Monday.

Winfield Flooding: Quick Facts

Located:	45 miles northwest of St. Louis
Population:	720
Homes Destroyed:	92
Homes Damaged:	36
Homes Inaccessible (includes damaged/destroyed):	650
National Guardmembers Helping:	300

Efforts to Save Winfield Neighborhood Fail, Residents Still Grateful

Friday the Mississippi overflowed the Pin Oak levee outside Winfield and threatened a 100-house neighborhood on the flood plain.

Nearly 300 National Guardmembers and hundreds of volunteers rushed to build a four-foot wall with sandbags, working 20 hours through the night. They hoped to hold back the water until the river's crest passed.

"I figured it was a long shot," said Winfield resident Jan Fox. "It was wonderful, all the people who came, the sandbaggers, the military." (Associated Press, 6/28/08)

But early Saturday morning, the river overcame the sandbags and flooded about 60 houses. An alarm sounded in time for residents to evacuate.

"It was a valiant effort," said Winfield-Foley Fire Department spokeswoman Chris Azar. "It's unfortunate that we couldn't do more, but Mother Nature won. Now, just give it time for the water to recede." (Associated Press, 6/28/08)

Mississippi Flood Heads to St. Louis, Cape Girardeau Next

As the Mississippi heads south, its water level is still above normal and considered at flood levels. The next Missouri towns in its path?

St. Louis on Monday:

• heavy rain Thursday and Friday caused Missouri River level to rise
• modest flooding expected Monday

Cape Girardeau on Wednesday

• flood level considered 32 feet; Mississippi expected to crest above 42 feet
• river predicted to flood 100,000 acres of cropland and force some area residents to evacuate

Other Areas in Missouri Battle Floods

Heavy rains last week across Missouri caused other floods:

Taney County—southwestern part of state:

• almost 5 inches of rain fell in just two hours
• mobile home park flooded and 15 people evacuated
• Lake Taneycomo bridge collapsed (no injuries)

Alexandria—northeastern part of state

• levee on Mississippi held and prevented flooding of town
• water now receding
• residents moving back into houses (only a few homes minorly damaged)

Clarksville and Louisiana—northeastern part of state

• neither town has a levee on the Mississippi River
• Clarksville residents sandbagging downtown
• high water started to recede in Louisiana

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Question for Readers:

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