National Weather Service Forecasts More Rains, 26 To 27 Levees Near Mississippi River In Danger Of Overflow

Cedar Rapids, IA (AHN) - Despite the lower level of Iowa's floodwaters, Midwestern state residents could not yet rest from sandbagging operations. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have advised communities near the Mississippi River in Iowa and Missouri to continue making sandbags and placing it along the river to prevent future inundation of several areas.

According to the National Weather Service forecast, more rains are on the way and it would cause the Mississippi River to rise to a point that water will spill over 26 or 27 levees between Davenport in Iowa and St. Louis in Missouri, said Ron Fournier, the spokesman of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Communities identified as high risk area for flooding from several inches to a few feet were Quincy in Illinois and Hannibal in Missouri. The MWS model said moderate flooding is a possibility in Alton, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri.

Meanwhile, a University of Iowa Professor of Hydroscience and Engineering Larry Weber said based on the level of flooding this year, Iowans should brace themselves for a summer still partly under water.

In the 1993 flooding, Iowa City was submerged for more than 80 days. With current inundation level breaking record by five feet, Weber said it would take longer this year for water to totally recede compared to 1993.

Weber credited the sandbagging volunteer effort of residents for helping the state deal with the crisis. He pushed for more engineering works such as surveys to ensure future levees are built with more consistency in relation to elevation and land topography.