Iowa National Guard Called In To Watch Missouri River Flood Omaha Nebraska

Council Bluffs, IA - Iowa's number one flooding focus is in the Omaha metro.

Major General Tim Orr of the Iowa National Guard says his top priority is protecting the levee system in Council Bluffs, and the National Guard is the first line of defense.

As the state looks to keep an entire city above water, the Missouri River is just relentless.

The sunlight shimmers through the trees, reflecting off the rising waters as they creep closer to homes.

Members of the Iowa National Guard are keeping a constant watch.

They're stationed along the levees in Council Bluffs.

"There are 30,000 citizens here that are affected by the levee system, and I will tell you it's a very big concern of mine," Iowa National Guard Major General Tim Orr said. "We're going to do everything we can to ensure the safety and early warning for them in the event we would have a leak."

Major General Orr says his priority is protecting the levee system in Council Bluffs. The guard members will be keeping a close watch on seepage and boils to prevent levee failure.

"They zig zag up and down the side of the levee system looking for those mole hole wet spots," Orr said.

David Ruhl lives across from a National Guard outpost. If the waters broke through, his house could be gone.

"You never feel comfortable to see Hummers role through your neighborhood, but it's good to have them out here looking around," Ruhl said.

Ruhl's thankful for the guard, but he's packing up just incase the waters get too close.

"Though we're not construction personnel, our job is to make sure that we're really the early warning, and that in the event something would happen, we're there to help evacuate and take care and protect the citizens," Orr said.

The head of the Iowa National Guard says they will be out in force across the state until the flood threat is over.

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[andyjoep]

@hitech98 I was in NO for six weeks after Katrina, what went on there is unimaginable to most americans. No one would believe me if I told them. Who organized it is even more scary and the guard let the real criminals do the biggest crimes on humanity.

[hitech98]

The "National Guard" helped in New Orleans too.

Taking Guns & forcing evacuations after they blew the levee's.