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Rivers Flood Farmland, Threaten Midwest Cities

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The Associated Press

Published: June 11, 2008

DES MOINES, Iowa - Rising rivers wiped out an Iowa railroad bridge Tuesday, flooded Illinois farmland and forced residents on the Mississippi River to prepare for what may be the worst floods in 15 years.

Cedar Falls, Iowa, officials readied residents and downtown business owners to evacuate as the Cedar River threatened to spill over a levee. The river was expected to top the levee today, prompting a mandatory evacuation of downtown, Mayor Jon Crews said.

In nearby Waterloo, fast-moving water swept away a railroad bridge used to transport tractors from a John Deere factory to Cedar Rapids, which shut its downtown and closed five bridges.
Levee breaks on Tuesday in southeastern Illinois flooded 50 to 75 square miles of farmland on the Embarras River, forcing evacuations of homes northeast of Lawrenceville, said Lawrence County Sheriff Russell Adams, adding that water reached roofs of some homes.

In Elnora, Ind., about 100 miles southwest of Indianapolis, sandbags and concrete barriers held back the White River. Most residents left after voluntary evacuation orders came Monday, two days after the area got up to 10 inches of rain.

"We have a very touch-and-go situation there," Gov. Mitch Daniels said.

The National Weather Service on Tuesday predicted Mississippi River crests of 10 feet above flood stage and higher in the next two weeks. Most towns have levees, but outlying areas could be flooded.

"This is major flooding," weather service hydrologist Karl Sieczynski said. He urged people in unprotected flood plains to seek higher ground.

In Wisconsin on Tuesday, engineers and contractors began repairing damage done when 267-acre Lake Delton overflowed and drained, washing away three houses. The water ripped apart sewer lines. Tuesday morning, raw sewage poured out of the pipes and ran down the Wisconsin River.
Michigan utilities said it would take days to restore service to nearly a quarter million homes and businesses without power after severe storms.

The East Coast baked in temperatures in the upper 90s from Georgia to northern New England, where the weather service reported a Tuesday high of 99 at Portsmouth, N.H.

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