Levee Protects Town From Major Flooding

PlusLevee Protects Town From Major FloodingLevee Protects Town From Major FloodingThe Associated PressThere could be devastating flooding in the Missouri town of Canton, if the town's decades old levee doesn't hold back the swelling Mississippi. AP correspondent Jason Bronis has more on how the town is protecting homes and businesses. (June 17)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] ((TRACK))((SUPER: CANTON, Mo.)) ((VO of markers, homes behind markers.)) NEON STRIPED STAKES MARK A HYPOTHETICAL RIVER BANK -- ONE THAT LEAVES HUNDREDS OF HOMES SUBMERGED.((SOT))((COVERED))"That would be the worst that could happen."((TRACK)) ((VO of markers, levee, river.)) IT'S A GRIM PREDICTION.AND, IT WILL COME TRUE IF THIS TOWN'S LEVEE DOESN'T HOLD BACK THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI.((SOT))((SUPER: Joe Clark/Mayor, Canton, Mo.))"If you don't have total confidence in our levee, if you're scared at all, you're free to evacuate if you want to."((TRACK)) ((VO of man standing on levee, river.)) SHAWN PETERSON WILL TAKE THAT OFFER.THE FORMER CALIFORNIAN MOVED INTO A HOME A NEAR THE LEVEE JUST THREE MONTHS AGO.((SOT))((SUPER: Shawn Peterson/Resident))"I'd take an earthquake over this any day, you know. It's overwhelming, you know."((NATS))Shoveling sand.((TRACK)) ((VO of volunteers shoveling sand.)) BUT CANTON WON'T GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT.SOME 18-HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS HAVE SPENT DAYS FILLING SANDBAGS. SCHOOL TEACHER SUSAN JOB (jobe) HAS LIVED HERE SINCE 19-84.((SOT))((SUPER: Susan Job/Resident))"You can't just sit and do nothing. When we're helping, we're giving it our all."((NATS))Throwing sandbags.((TRACK)) ((VO of guardsmen throwing sandbags on levee.)) ATOP THE 24-FOOT LEVEE, ARMY NATIONAL GUARDSMEN WITH THE 14-38-TH ENGINEER COMPANY HELP BUILD A FIVE FOOT EXTENTION THAT SHOULD BEAT THE PROJECTED CREST.EVEN THOUGH BUSINESSES IN THE SHADOW OF THE LEVEE ARE LARGELY ABANDONED, MOST HERE SAY THEY'RE STICKING IT OUT.((SOT))((SUPER: Darla Gaus/Resident))"I'm just staying. It's my house. I own it, and we're staying."((STANDUP))((SUPER: Jason Bronis/Canton, Mo.))"Folks here in Canton have good reason to be confident in their levee. It was one of the few here along the Mississippi River that stood up against the last historic flood in 19-93."((TRACK)) ((VO of mayor sitting at desk.)) IT'S WHY THE MAYOR OF THIS TOWN IS AS CONFIDENT AS HE CAN BE THAT 2-THOUSAND-EIGHT WILL TURN OUT THE SAME WAY.((SOT))((Clark))"I think things are going smoother than they did in 93. So, my level of confidence is very high."((TRACK)) ((VO of guardsmen throwing bags on levee.)) WILL THIS FORTY YEAR OLD LEVEE STAND STRONG AGAIN?THE ANSWER SHOULD COME BY THE END OF THE WEEK.JB, THE A-P, CANTON, MISSOURI. (****END****)

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• midwest
• flooding
• levee
• protects
• from
• major

[the69ford]

well i'm glad it didnt break even though i live on a big hill

[anoniab]

Levees are not the answer. If anyone has built levees upstream, it makes flooding worse downstream. Please research this. Floodplains need to be allowed to be floodplains. They were never meant for building.