Rising Mississippi River threatening towns

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Mississippi River communities scrambling Tuesday to fend off the rain-engorged waterway got discouraging news: More rains looming across much of the nation's midsection threatened to slow the potential retreat of the renegade river.

Such an outlook may not be welcomed in the northeast Missouri town of West Alton, where a makeshift levee's breach Monday fanned worries that the 570-resident town — which was mostly swept away by a flood in 1993 — would be inundated again. A voluntary evacuation advisory before the breach was fixed was heeded by just 15 percent of the town's residents, but "everyone else is ready to go at a moment's notice" if the hastily shored-up barrier shows signs of giving way, Fire Chief Rick Pender said Tuesday.

For now, he said, "everything is stable," with much of the flooding corralled in a railroad bed acting as a town-protecting channel.

"There are some spots not looking pretty (as defenses), but they're still holding the water back," Pender told The Associated Press by telephone. "Everyone is just monitoring the sandbags and barriers, waiting for this water to come down."

The latest National Weather Service forecasts suggest that was to happen later Tuesday. But more rains expected in coming days, from St. Louis north to Minnesota and westward across some of the Great Plains, stood to drop another inch of precipitation here and there, adding more water to the Missouri River and the Mississippi River into which it feeds, National Weather Service hydrologist Mark Fuchs said.

"We're not talking about huge amounts, but any amount when the soil already is wet is going to slow the rivers' retreat," Fuchs said from his St. Louis-area office. "If you take that into account, there's not going to be a big drop in the river levels any time soon."

Across the river in Illinois, in the 28,000-resident city of Alton north of St. Louis, floodwaters already forced the closure of the local casino and the scenic "Great River Road" leading out of it to the north. By late Monday, floodwaters had swamped some of the Clark Bridge linking the city to West Alton, halting traffic from making it into Missouri.

Yet there was reason for optimism: The National Weather Service as of Tuesday afternoon said the river at Alton was expected to crest that evening, some 13 feet above flood stage.

The worst was yet to come south of St. Louis near Cape Girardeau, Mo., where the river was continued to swell higher until reaching a peak Thursday night, again some 13 feet above flood stage.

That rapid rise has produced a feverish sandbagging effort in nearby Dutchtown, where the river threatened to send water into about a third of the homes in the tiny town of about 100 people. It also was threatening to make another nearby community — Allenville, population 117 — an island. In Dutchtown, dozens of prison inmates bussed in were working shoulder to shoulder with other volunteers Tuesday, working to bolster the makeshift barrier.

"So far, the levees are doing fine," Dutchtown Alderwoman Shirley Moss said. "We still have a lot of water coming this way, and we're still all out here working. It's very treacherous, and you just don't know how much you need to do to prevent this water from coming into town.

"We're doing all we can, with all the help we can get."

Via Yahoo News!

River begins to crest in Minot, North Dakota

3,000 to 4,000 homes have been affected by floodwater in MinotNWS: After fluctuating, water levels are expected to slowly fall there late SundayThe town of Sawyer, North Dakota, is evacuatedThe Souris River has already topped its record crest from 1881

Minot, North Dakota (CNN) -- The bloated Souris River was in the process of cresting Sunday in Minot, North Dakota, where record water levels have flooded thousands of homes.

"We're going to see minor fluctuations throughout the day today," but the water levels in Minot are expected to stay relatively close, said meteorologist Patrick Ayd of the National Weather Service in Bismarck, North Dakota.

He said the forecast shows a "very slow fall" starting Sunday evening.

The Souris River has already topped its record high of 1,558 feet above sea level, set in 1881.

A spontaneous burst of applause broke out at a Saturday press conference in Minot when the city's mayor said even though the Souris River should crest overnight -- about 12 feet higher than flood stage, it will be several inches short of what had been feared.

"This is great news," said Mayor Curt Zimbelman.

The Souris River flows through the center of Minot, a city of about 36,000. About a third of the city's population is under evacuation orders, while 3,000 to 4,000 homes have been affected by floodwater, the Minot Fire Department has said.

One resident, Stuart Dull, told CNN about how he, his wife and two children feverishly packed up their belongings ahead of the approaching waters.

"Words kind of escape me," Dull said after sneaking back toward his home and seeing it under water. "It's a sense of despair ... and it's maybe a check on some of the things that you hold dear."

Stuart Collum said he spotted the silver chimney and black roof of his house, where he has lived since 1968, on Saturday -- with the rest of the dwelling under water.

"I hate to say it, but I had tears in my eyes this morning. It's a sickening feeling because I knew when I come back it won't hardly be worth fixing. It's almost 100 years old," he said.

These personal struggles come as local, state and federal authorities rush to minimize the damage to property and maximize security and safety of residents.

Minot officials announced a "boil-water order" Saturday afternoon, telling residents to boil tap water for at least a minute before consuming in order to kill any dangerous organisms.

The focal point in Minot continues to be the Broadway Bridge, a critical north-south route through town. Officials have been working round-the-clock to prevent the river from inundating nearby routes, all part of larger efforts aimed at preventing Minot by effectively being split in half by the flooding.

"It's really important that (Broadway) bridge stays open," said Cecily Fong, spokeswoman for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services.

Republican Rep. Rick Berg said he had been in touch with officials in Washington -- which has authorized FEMA to grant assistance -- and expressed optimism that the government will work well with residents to overcome the challenges.

"You're seeing people at the highest levels working together, putting politics behind them," said North Dakota's lone congressman.

Berg, though, cautioned that the "marathon" was far from over. For instance, water levels near the Broadway Bridge were still expected to remain around 1,561 feet through Tuesday -- well above the record of 1,558 feet -- with a slow drop over the coming week.

And the worst is yet to come for other North Dakota cities and towns.

In Sawyer, "we'll be approaching peak levels over next 24 hours," Ayd said early Sunday morning. Water levels in Velva are expected to peak Monday or Tuesday.

The situation prompted the evacuation Saturday of the Sawyer's 350 residents as water from the Souris River began to slosh up a main street through town, according to the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

Crews were engaged in a "touch and go" struggle to build a temporary levee to stop the flow of water through the now-vacant town, said Shannon Bauer, a public information officer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"We have not given up," Bauer said.

Ken and Janelle Herslip's house -- less than a mile from the Souris -- was one of those flooded on Sunday.

Even though a crew of more than three dozen friends and family helped them evacuate on Monday -- scouring the house for everything that wasn't attached to the walls -- Ken Herslip said his wife is still devastated.

"We've had many homes over our life, and she finally got the house of her dreams," he said. "She is absolutely devastated, bawling all the time."

Herslip, who built the house, isn't so busted up. No one was hurt, and they can build again, he said.

Still, he said, "it will never be the same."

Dull voiced similar sentiments after the floodwaters forced him and his family out of their home -- leaving them safe, even as they're left largely helpless without flood insurance as the waters roll in. An overwhelming positive from this whole ordeal, he said, is how city residents have rallied to support one another.

"The community that we live in, they're absolutely great," said Dull. "All around, there are people helping people, strangers helping you move, everyone is so helpful.

"I just can't say enough about living in this town ... It's comforting to know that people care for you, even strangers."

CNN's Mike Pearson, Jim Spellman, Holly Yan, Phil Gast and Sara Weisfeldt contributed to this report.

CNN

N. Dakota town ordered to evacuate as river rises

NEW: "We have not given up," Corps of Engineers official says of evacuated cityNEW: "It's a sickening feeling," Minot resident saysImmediate evacuation ordered for Sawyer, North DakotaThe Souris River has already topped the record crest from 1881

Minot, North Dakota (CNN) -- Residents of the small North Dakota town of Sawyer were ordered to immediately evacuate Saturday as the Souris River began to slosh up a main street through town, according to a U.S. Corps of Engineers official.

The city of about 350 people southwest of Minot, North Dakota -- which has major flooding issues of its own -- has been the subject of a frenetic levee-building effort by the corps.

Water began flowing up First Street on the northwest side of town early Saturday morning, said Shannon Bauer, a public information officer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The river stood at five feet above flood stage Saturday morning. It is forecast to rise nearly 2 1/2 more feet at Sawyer before cresting on Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Crews are engaged in a "touch and go" struggle to build a temporary levee to stop the flow of water through the now-vacant town, according to Bauer.

"We have not given up," Bauer said.

The evacuation came as officials in Minot continued to deal with record flooding from the Souris that threatens to split the city in half. The swollen river is expected to crest this weekend after already topping its record water level on Friday, giving no respite to the thousands of people in North Dakota whose homes have been inundated by floodwater.

Minot resident Stuart Collum ventured to the edge of the floodwaters Saturday. He could see the silver chimney and black roof of the house where he has lived since 1968. The rest was under water.

"I hate to say it but I had tears in my eyes this morning. It's a sickening feeling because I knew when I come back it won't hardly be worth fixing. It's almost 100 years old," he said.

On Friday, city officials said they were feverishly working to prevent the river from inundating routes leading to the Broadway Bridge, a critical north-south route through town.

"It's really important that bridge stays open," said Cecily Fong, spokeswoman for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services.

Workers reinforced levees and built huge dikes to stem the flow of the river, Hocking said Friday night. Air boats were brought in earlier.

City officials had nevertheless ordered police, fire and medical units to position themselves on hills on each side of town as a precaution.

More than 3,000 homes in Minot were flooded Friday when river water gushed through the city. Some of the homes were covered to their roofs, Minot Fire Department Battalion Chief John Hocking said.

About 15% to 20% of the city was under water as of Friday, officials said.

"This is by far the toughest we've seen," Hocking said.

Ken and Janelle Herslip own one of those homes. Located less than a mile from the Souris, it's already flooded and more water is expected, Ken Herslip said Saturday.

Even though a crew of more than three dozen friends and family helped them evacuate on Monday -- scouring the house of everything that wasn't attached to the walls, Herslip said his wife is still devastated.

"We've had many homes over our life and she finally got the house of her dreams," he said. "She is absolutely devastated, bawling all the time."

Herslip, who built the house, isn't so busted up. No one was hurt, and they can build again, he said.

Still, he said, "it will never be the same."

The Souris River, which locals call "The Mouse" after the French translation of its name, flows through the center of Minot, a city of about 36,000. About a third of the city's population is under evacuation orders.

"This has been a very trying time for our community," Mayor Curt Zimbelman said Friday. "Emotionally draining for all of us."

The flooding has already eclipsed the record set in 1881, according to National Weather Service figures. The river was 12.56 feet above flood stage Saturday morning. The previous record was nine feet above flood stage, according to the weather service. It was expected to rise two more feet by Sunday morning, according to the weather service.

"Water is flowing toward Minot from Canada faster than ever due to record water levels upstream," the weather agency said Friday night. "The current forecast is for the crest to reach between 1,564 and 1,565 feet above sea level sometime during the overnight hours of June 25-26, and continuing through June 30. This crest would be more than 6 feet above record flood stage, and 9 feet above major flood stage."

The rush of water prompted the overflowing of a lake near the city, officials said, exacerbating the region's flood concerns.

About 800 National Guard troops were in the city late Friday to assist, Fong said.

Hocking said he took an aerial tour of areas around Minot and said saw widespread flooding.

"All along you could see are rooftops and flooded areas," he said.

CNN's Phil Gast, Marlena Baldacci, Jim Spellman, Alta Spells and Sara Weisfeldt contributed to this report.

CNN

Mounting river to crest as thousands of homes flooded in N. Dakota

"Water is flowing toward Minot from Canada faster than ever," a weather agency says15-20% of the North Dakota city is underwater, according to the National Weather ServiceThe Souris River is slated to crest late Saturday or early SundayThe river topped its record of 1,558 feet set in 1881

Minot, North Dakota (CNN) -- The swollen Souris River is expected to crest this weekend after already topping its record water level on Friday, giving no respite to the thousands of people in North Dakota whose homes have been inundated by floodwater.

About 15-20% of Minot, North Dakota, was underwater late Friday, and floodwaters are expected to increase in the coming days, the National Weather Service said.

The Souris River, which locals call "The Mouse" after the French translation of its name, flows through the center of city. The river looks like a "U" and swoops in and out of North Dakota from Canada.

"Water is flowing toward Minot from Canada faster than ever due to record water levels upstream," the weather agency said Friday night. "The current forecast is for the crest to reach between 1,564 and 1,565 feet above sea level sometime during the overnight hours of June 25-26, and continuing through June 30. This crest would be more than 6 feet above record flood stage, and 9 feet above major flood stage."

The previous record of 1,558 feet above sea level was set in 1881, according to the NWS. The level was 1,560.13 on Friday evening.

Floodwater gushed through Minot on Friday. Between 3,000 and 4,000 homes have been affected by the water, and in some, the water was "up to the roofs," Minot Fire Department Battalion Chief John Hocking said.

"This is by far the toughest we've seen," Hocking said.

Crews were trying to keep the vital north-south U.S. Highway 83 open as the waters stopped railroad service and sent residents and zoo animals to higher ground. Officials worried that more levees would be breached.

A special focus was the so-called Broadway Bridge on U.S. 83, which spans the river. If it closes, Minot effectively would be split, making it tougher for emergency vehicles and repair crews to move about.

"It's really important that bridge stays open," said Cecily Fong, spokeswoman for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services.

Workers reinforced levees and built huge dikes to stem the flow of the river, Hocking said Friday night. Air boats were brought in earlier.

"This has been a very trying time for our community," Mayor Curt Zimbelman said. "Emotionally draining for all of us."

The rush of water prompted the overflowing of a lake near the city, officials said, exacerbating the region's flood concerns.

About 12,000 residents have evacuated their homes, according to Minot Fire Department Capt. Dean Lenertz.

Minot, in the north-central part of the state, is the fourth-largest city in North Dakota. The evacuation order covers a third of its population, state Emergency Services spokeswoman Cecily Fong said.

Zimbelman has said that no new evacuations have been ordered, even though "the flows coming into Lake Darling are reaching the lake quicker and at a greater volume than predicted."

"Due to this, Lake Darling has increased its outflow," the mayor said -- increasing flooding in the floodplain, though not to a point that it yet changes the "inundation zone."

About 800 National Guard troops were in the city late Friday to assist, Fong said.

Hocking said he took an aerial tour of areas around Minot and said saw widespread flooding.

"All along you could see are rooftops and flooded areas," he said.

Water has topped the city's dikes since Wednesday, which are leaking in some places.

CNN's Phil Gast, Marlena Baldacci, Jim Spellman and Alta Spells contributed to this report.

CNN

N. Dakota river to surpass record levels

Minot, North Dakota (CNN) -- Summer flooding in Minot, North Dakota, hit record levels on Friday as the Souris River tied the all-time high of 1,558 feet set in 1881, according to the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Center.

The river has surged more than six feet higher than the old record after waters rushed into the area faster and in greater amounts than expected, officials said.

The rush of water prompted overflowing of a lake near the city, officials said, exacerbating the region's flood concerns.

Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman has said that no new evacuations have been ordered, even though "the flows coming into Lake Darling are reaching the lake quicker and at a greater volume than predicted."

"Due to this, Lake Darling has increased its outflow," the mayor added -- increasing flooding in the flood-plain, though not to a point that it yet changes the "inundation zone."

About 12,000 residents have evacuated their homes, according to Minot Fire Department Capt. Dean Lenertz. The mayor of Minot and the state's governor congratulated citizens on an organized and efficient evacuation, with Gov. Jack Dalrymple saying it had "gone extremely well."

Water has been overtopping the city's dikes since Wednesday, which are leaking in some places.

Dalrymple said that "all agencies are engaged" statewide in addressing the issue. He noted, for example, that workers with North Dakota's transportation department are moving 100,000 sandbags from Bismarck to the Minot area, and there are about 500 National Guard personnel on site.

The Souris River, which locals call "The Mouse" after the French translation of its name, flows through the center of town, and there are several homes and businesses along its low-lying banks.

Fearing the main levees would not hold back the water, emergency workers have been constructing local levees around a school and the Broadway Street Bridge, a main thoroughfare.

At least one of those had to be pushed back Thursday, said Zimbelman, eliminating Third street as a north-south access point through the city.

At the nearby Minot Air Force Base, about 1,000 members of the military and their families have been displaced by the rising waters in the city, according to Capt. Genieve David, a base spokeswoman. An emergency shelter has been set up on the base, with 50 people staying their overnight, the mayor said. An additional 221 people stayed at shelters run by the Red Cross.

Minot, in the north central part of the state, is the fourth-largest city in North Dakota. The evacuation order covers a third of its population, Fong said.

The Souris River looks like a "U." It swoops in and out of North Dakota from Canada.

CNN's Jim Spellman, Ed Payne, Marlena Baldacci and Alta Spells contributed to this report.

CNN

North Dakota river to surpass record levels

Minot, North Dakota (CNN) -- The summer flooding in Minot, North Dakota, will enter record territory Friday morning as the Souris River surges toward a peak, days ahead of original forecasts by the National Weather Service.

The river, which stood 1,556 feet above sea level early Friday, is forecast to top the 1881 record of 1,558 feet by mid-morning and peak at 1564.5 feet late Saturday or early Sunday. That would put the Souris more than six feet higher than the old record.

The waters were rushing into the area faster and in greater amounts than expected, overflowing a lake near the city, officials said, exacerbating the region's flood concerns.

But Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman said Thursday that no new evacuations had been ordered, even though "the flows coming into Lake Darling are reaching the lake quicker and at a greater volume than predicted."

"Due to this, Lake Darling has increased its outflow," the mayor added -- increasing flooding in the flood-plain, though not to a point that it yet changes the "inundation zone."

About 12,000 residents have evacuated their homes, according to Minot Fire Department Capt. Dean Lenertz. The mayor of Minot and the state's governor congratulated citizens on an organized and efficient evacuation, with Gov. Jack Dalrymple saying it had "gone extremely well."

Water has been overtopping the city's dikes since Wednesday, which are leaking in some places.

Dalrymple said that "all agencies are engaged" statewide in addressing the issue. He noted, for example, that workers with North Dakota's transportation department are moving 100,000 sandbags from Bismarck to the Minot area, and there are about 500 National Guard personnel on site.

The Souris River, which locals call "The Mouse" after the French translation of its name, flows through the center of town, and there are several homes and businesses along its low-lying banks.

Fearing the main levees would not hold back the water, emergency workers have been constructing local levees around a school and the Broadway Street Bridge, a main thoroughfare.

At least one of those had to be pushed back Thursday, said Zimbelman, eliminating Third street as a north-south access point through the city.

At the nearby Minot Air Force Base, about 1,000 members of the military and their families have been displaced by the rising waters in the city, according to Capt. Genieve David, a base spokeswoman. An emergency shelter has been set up on the base, with 50 people staying there overnight, the mayor said. An additional 221 people stayed at shelters run by the Red Cross.

Minot, in the north-central part of the state, is the fourth-largest city in North Dakota. The evacuation order covers a third of its population, Fong said.

The Souris River looks like a "U." It swoops in and out of North Dakota from Canada.

CNN's Jim Spellman, Ed Payne, Marlena Baldacci and Alta Spells contributed to this report.

CNN

Swollen Missouri River spurs new evacuations

The Missouri River broke through levees at two points early Sunday, causing more resident evacuations.NEW: Official raises concern about projected high water flowsAbout 250 people are affected by the latest orders and advisoriesA local official in northwestern Missouri says the river has already topped a 1993 record

(CNN) -- The swollen Missouri River washed over and punched through levees in northwestern Missouri early Sunday, spurring authorities to urge about 250 nearby residents to leave their homes.

The river breached levees at two points overnight and overtopped them at two others near Corning, Missouri, about 100 miles north of Kansas City, the Holt County Sheriff's Department reported. Most residents had already cleared out due to voluntary evacuation calls, but authorities went door-to-door early Sunday to order nearly 30 people who remained to leave, the agency told CNN.

Upriver, evacuation advisories went out for 200 to 250 people in the town of Watson and other areas west of Interstate 29, said Mark Manchester, the deputy emergency management director in Atchison County. Water was sloshing over the levees "at a pretty good clip" Sunday morning and had already topped the county's previous record mark, set in 1993, he said.

"We're in uncharted waters here," Manchester said.

The Missouri was more than 11.5 feet over flood stage at nearby Brownville, according to National Weather Service data.

And across the state line in Hamburg, Iowa, where two levees failed last week, the river was expected to crest at 10 feet over flood stage in the coming days, Fremont County Emergency Management chief Mike Crecelius said.

Crecelius said the river has been over flood stage since late April, and that forecasters are projecting river flows of 150,000 cubic feet (1.1 million gallons) per second through August.

"They're not designed for this amount of pressure for this length of time," Crecelius said. "They've never been tested like this."

Heavy rainfall in Montana and North Dakota, combined with melting snow from the Rocky Mountains, have sent the Missouri surging downstream, according to the National Weather Service. The 6 to 12 inches of rainfall in the upper Missouri basin in the past few weeks is nearly a normal year's worth, and runoff from the mountain snowpack is 140% of normal, the agency says.

CNN's Matt Smith and Divina Mims contributed to this report.

CNN

Swollen river crests in Mississippi

NEW: "We're in need of, first off, a place to live," an evacuee tells CNN affiliate WAPTNEW: Crews work to shore up the the mainline Mississippi levee at Lake AlbemarleSevere storms are forecast this weekend along parts of the MississippiExperts: It will take until mid-June for floodwaters to recede in VicksburgCheck out CNN affiliates WJTV and WLBT for the latest reports on flooding.

Vicksburg, Mississippi (CNN) -- Storms were forecast Saturday for areas already suffering from the swollen Mississippi River, as Mississippi's governor urged caution.

The rain comes as the Mississippi River was cresting in Natchez, Mississippi. The water was cresting at 61.8 feet, or 13.8 feet above flood stage there, according to the National Weather Service.

There were some early signs of recovery farther north in Vicksburg, where the river had already crested, though the floodwaters are expected to remain for weeks. The Yazoo backwater levee near Vicksburg had hit its peak, CNN affiliate WLBT reported.

"These levees are going to be more and more saturated every day. There will be continuing wave action up against them and so people shouldn't drop their guard," Gov. Haley Barbour told reporters in Yazoo City Friday.

Although many displaced residents in Vicksburg are eager to return to their homes, until the water level recedes, only emergency officials will be allowed, WLBT reported.

"It is illegal to drive a boat in flooded areas and it will remain so until that executive order is lifted, which won't be soon," Barbour said.

The governor also warned of health risks to both the emergency responders and residents.

"We've had reports of water samples where the E. coli level was 200 times normal. This stuff is nasty," Barbour said. The governor himself owns a lake home that has been flooded.

The Mississippi River is not expected to return to its 43-foot flood stage in Vicksburg until after June 14, which is 46 days after it climbed out of its banks, said Amanda Roberts, a National Weather Service hydrologist. It crested at 57.1 feet Thursday. The river is more than a foot over the record set in the city in 1927.

"We're in need of, first off, a place to live. And then second off, pretty much everything you would need in a home," evacuee Pat Wilsoe told CNN affiliate WAPT.

Vicksburg resident Hoover Youenger told the station his home had several feet of water in it.

"In a way, it feels like a big loss, but with Mother Nature you can't do anything about it," he said, WAPT reported.

Severe storms are likely Saturday and Sunday in the Mississippi River, Ohio River and Tennessee River valleys.

Up to 3 inches of rain per hour are possible, with heavier storms on Sunday. The rain could lead to secondary crests and higher crests along the Mississippi from Memphis, Tennessee, southward, CNN meteorologist Sean Morris said.

Some greeted the cresting floodwaters -- which have damaged hundreds of homes and displaced 2,000 Vicksburg residents -- with relief. Others just went to work.

Rusty Larsen, owner of Rusty's River Front Grill in Vicksburg, told CNN affiliate WJTV that his business has picked up some with the floods.

"We stay busy most days anyway, but there's been a lot of people downtown," he said. "I see a lot of local people. Some of them are tourists. Everybody wants to come see the water."

Local officials caution that some area residents may have to wait to return to their homes.

Flooded houses pose a variety of dangers, they said. Rising floodwaters bring debris, hazardous waste and gas leaks, and force snakes or other potentially dangerous animals from their habitats and into residential areas.

"Right now we're moving to the recovery stage," Vicksburg Mayor Paul Winfield told CNN.

"Our first priority, I believe, should be public safety, to continue to encourage our residents and onlookers to stay free of the water."

Law enforcement officials are patrolling evacuated areas to help ensure that abandoned homes and businesses aren't burglarized, Winfield said. And each flooded property must be assessed before an owner can return to it, he said.

Warren County, which includes Vicksburg, has "several hundred homes that have water" and about 2,000 residents have been displaced, Sheriff Martin Pace said.

County residents are accustomed to flooding and know what to do, but none have experienced it at this magnitude, according to Pace.

A slide was detected on the mainline Mississippi levee at Lake Albemarle, the Corps of Engineers said Thursday. That occurs when the integrity of a levee is undermined because dirt and sand are being eroded, spokeswoman Eileen Williamson said.

Crews are working around the clock to help fill the gaps.

If the levee fails, thousands of homes and more than one million acres would be flooded, according to Peter Nimrod, the Mississippi Levee Board's chief engineer.

"So it's very important we hold this levee together," he said.

Farther south, where the Mississippi River has not yet crested, residents were working to clear out their homes and find ways to get by.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has asked for federal assistance in grappling with flooding stemming from the Morganza Spillway, where 17 bays have been opened in hopes of sparing New Orleans farther downstream.

So far, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has delivered nearly 150,000 sandbags, 30,000 cubic yards of sand and 33,000 linear feet of fabric-lined baskets, the governor's office said. Approximately 1,150 Louisiana National Guard members have been mobilized.

Mandatory evacuations were in effect Saturday in Happy Town and the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office said. Officials will decide whether evacuations are needed in Butte La Rose on Monday.

Spillway gates are likely to be open for weeks, meaning it will be some time before the river falls below flood stage, allowing evacuees to return.

The flood is the most significant to hit the lower Mississippi River valley since at least 1937. It has affected nine states so far: Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

CNN's Brian Todd contributed to this report.

CNN

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Nervous residents watch rising Mississippi River

NEW: "My house is completely submerged," Mississippi resident saysNEW: At Morganza Spillway, any number of 125 gate bays could be openedArkansas Farm Bureau estimates damage to state's agriculture to top $500 millionLouisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says flooding could affect about 3 million acres Check out local reports on CNN affiliates WMC, WPTY, WSIL, KFVS, WPSD and WREG. If you're in an affected area, share your story with CNN's iReport.

Tunica, Mississippi (CNN) -- The swollen Mississippi River rolled south Wednesday, swamping emptied-out towns and businesses, and threatening untold damage to areas still recovering from a series of natural disasters.

In Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas, authorities and residents braced for the days ahead.

"I went through Katrina," said Lynn Magnuson of New Orleans. "I would not wish flooding on anyone, and this city is the last place on Earth that needs any more high water."

Open Story: Damage map

The river crested Tuesday at Memphis, just short of a record set in 1937.

The river in Memphis measured 47.8 feet Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service. Flood stage in Memphis is 34 feet.

In Natchez, Mississippi, the river surpassed its record early Wednesday, exceeding 58 feet. Forecasts predict the river will crest in Natchez on May 21 at an overwhelming 64 feet. Flood stage in Natchez is 48 feet.

Floodwaters on rise in Mississippi, Louisiana

Mississippi has already had to close some casinos at Tunica, a key economic driver in that part of the state, as floodwaters seeped in.

About 600 people in the community of Tunica Cutoff have been driven from their homes, said Larry Liddell, a county spokesman.

"My house is completely submerged. You can't even see it from a photograph," said Michael Dewes, who fled the Tunica Cutoff community and is staying in a shelter. "It's completely gone."

In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal said as many as 3 million acres could be affected by the flooding. Some 500 National Guard members have been mobilized so far and 21 parishes have issued emergency declarations.

The river's crest is expected to begin arriving in Louisiana next week. Flooding is expected to be a major setback in the southern part of the state.

"After hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike -- as well as the oil spill -- Louisiana can ill afford another large-scale disaster," said Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Louisiana Democrat. "Billions of dollars in property is at stake, not to mention the threat to human life."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it was closing a major lock that allows for the transfer of barge traffic between the Mississippi and the Red River Basin.

On Tuesday, the Corps opened 44 more gates to the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Norco, Louisiana, north of New Orleans, sending millions of gallons of water rushing into Lake Pontchartrain and, eventually, the Gulf of Mexico.

In addition to 28 gates opened on Monday, it may consider opening an additional 38 on Wednesday, according to John Young, the Jefferson Parish president.

As the swollen waters inch closer, anxious Louisiana residents are demanding answers.

Some have posted on Facebook pages operated by the Corps, demanding answers about when certain spillways will be opened and what other areas are facing flooding.

Residents and officials are especially concerned about the Morganza Spillway above Baton Rouge, which was last opened in 1973. Opening it could help spare Baton Rouge and New Orleans from some of the flooding's damage, but it would flood populated and rural areas in the swampy Atchafalaya Basin. The basin is home to the Atchafalaya River and myriad tributaries.

The 4,800-foot spillway includes 125 gate bays, said operations manager Russell Beauvais. In 1973, 42 of them were opened.

After gates are opened, Beauvais said, it would take about three days for the water to fully reach Morgan City, a town of about 12,000 near the coast.

In Arkansas, meanwhile, the Farm Bureau estimated damage to the state agriculture could top $500 million as more than a million acres of cropland are under water.

In Helena, Arkansas, the river was above 56 feet Wednesday. Flood level in Helena is 44 feet.

A crest is defined as the high point of the water during a flood before it begins to recede. Observers generally know that cresting is occurring when the gradual rise stops and the water level becomes stable.

What does cresting mean?

The Mississippi is the highest it's been at Memphis since 1937 when it crested at 48.7 feet -- 14.7 feet above flood stage. That flood killed 500 people and inundated 20 million acres of land, said Col. Vernie Reichling, the Corps of Engineers Memphis District commander.

How the Mississippi River levees could fail

So far, the levees protecting the area have only shown minor weaknesses, which workers have been able to control, he said.

President Barack Obama signed disaster declarations for Tennessee, which will help direct federal aid toward recovery efforts in areas hit by severe storms, flooding and tornadoes.

Flooding also continues to be a problem in southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois, though the Mississippi and Ohio rivers have already crested in those states.

CNN's Ed Lavandera and Tracy Sabo contributed to this report.

CNN

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Police: Body found in Md. river is missing N.C. teen

Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Terrence Sheridan said at a news conference.

Descriptions of Barnes that circulated since her disappearance included a rose tattoo on her lower right leg.

She was found near the Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River, one of two pulled from the Susquehanna River on Wednesday. The other body was a man, who has not been identified and it is not clear if there is any connection between the two. Investigators were trying to identify him through fingerprints.

There were no signs of injury or wounds to Barnes when her body was found, Sheridan said. The cause and how they died have not yet been determined. Neither body had clothes on.

The Susquehanna is a cold river and it is possible that Barnes

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Mom drives into river, drowning 3 kids, self

Update at 9:14 a.m. ET: New York City's WPIX reports that police had responded to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance at the victim's nearby home 10 minutes before the incident but found the place empty.

Newburgh authorities plan to give a news conference about the tragedy at around 10 a.m. ET.

Earlier post: A mother and three of her children drowned late Tuesday after she drove her minivan with everyone inside into the Hudson River, but not before first letting out a fourth child who ran for help, the Times Herald Record reports.

Police say the incident is apparently related to a domestic dispute at a home near the river in Newburgh, N.Y., about 60 miles north of New York City.

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Mother, 3 children dead after she drives van into river

Mom, kids dead after car goes into riverSTORY HIGHLIGHTSA mother and 3 children are found dead after their van runs into the Hudson RiverAuthorities don't know if the woman deliberately drove the van into the waterRELATED TOPICSHudson RiverDeath and Dying (CNN) -- A mother and three of her children were found dead after the woman drove her van into the Hudson River Tuesday night, a fire department official said.

The woman drove her van into the river in Newburgh, New York, according to Michael Vatter, the city's fire chief.

A 10-year-old boy alerted authorities to the incident upon arriving at the city's fire station shortly before 8:00 p.m., Vatter said. Responders found the van approximately 25 yards offshore in 8 to 10 feet of water, according to the chief.

Vatter said it's "hard to tell" at this point whether the woman drove the van into the water deliberately.

"There was apparently a domestic disturbance just prior to this incident involving that family," Vatter said.

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Red River Valley flood fight shifts north of Fargo

By Scott Olson, Getty Images

A cemetery sits under flood water in the yard of a rural church April 10 near Gardner, North Dakota. The Red River crested yesterday about 25 miles south of Gardner in Fargo, North Dakato at 38.5 feet.

EnlargeCloseBy Scott Olson, Getty Images

A cemetery sits under flood water in the yard of a rural church April 10 near Gardner, North Dakota. The Red River crested yesterday about 25 miles south of Gardner in Fargo, North Dakato at 38.5 feet.

Fargo officials said the metropolitan area appears to be in good shape, but urged residents not to travel outside the city. About 60 miles of roads were closed in Cass County, where Fargo is located, and another 10 miles of roads were washed over, officials said. Interstate 29 north of Fargo was closed for about 25 miles.

Some tributaries of the Red River were at record levels.

"In the southern part of the valley, it's quiet," Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker said Sunday. "In the northern part of the valley, especially in Cass County, they're having extreme problems."

About 425 National Guard members were on duty in Cass County and were ready to help with evacuations if needed, North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple said Sunday. He said there haven't been "many very serious situations," but officials were monitoring the rise of overland flooding.

"Things are pretty rough in the county," Dalrymple said.

One man was rescued by a Cass County Sheriff's Department airboat Sunday when he became stuck in his tractor near Argusville after the flooded road gave out beneath him, National Guard officials said. Five other people and a dog near Argusville were evacuated by airboat when a dike reportedly gave way.

Residents in Harwood, north of Fargo, and Casselton, west of Fargo, were told to stop using water because their sanitary sewer systems were starting to back up. Several other communities asked citizens to restrict use of water.

The National Weather Service reported Sunday that the river crested in Fargo about 6:15 p.m. Saturday at a level of 38.75 feet. The only higher floods were 40.84 feet in 2009, 39.72 feet in 1997, and 39.10 feet in 1897. Flood stage for the river is 18 feet.

This spring's flood threat was set up by high moisture in the soil after back-to-back wet years, followed by an extremely snowy winter. The Red River Valley's extremely flat topography also makes it prone to flooding in any year.

Heavy rain fell at times in the Fargo area on Sunday, but the weather service said it shouldn't impact the Red River level. Dry weather was forecast for most of the week.

"We're still looking at high waters for a while," said Jim Scarlett, weather service meteorologist. "The threat is not over, but it's subsiding."

Scarlett said the added rain would prolong overland flooding in the county "and that's a bad thing."

Fargo and Moorhead officials reported few problems with clay levees and sandbag dikes. About 10 people reported minor problems with pumps overnight, said Tim Mahoney, Fargo deputy mayor.

"Tomorrow we'll talk about plans for taking sandbags out of the neighborhoods. Do some things to promote more normal activities," Mahoney said.

Fargo was already scraping mud off the streets from the delivery of clay and sand. In one neighborhood, city commissioner Mike Williams said, "You could eat off the street."

Fargo was trucking some of its clay to Harwood for the construction of levees, Mahoney said.

"They're in a fight," the deputy mayor said.

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Red River crests on North Dakota-Minnesota border

By the CNN Wire Staff STORY HIGHLIGHTSSeasonal flooding has hit communities in upper MidwestAt least three people have died in MinnesotaThe U.S. Coast Guard says it rescued five people (CNN) -- The swollen Red River that forms the border between Minnesota and North Dakota crested near 40 feet in Fargo, North Dakota, a spokesman for the City of Fargo Fire Department said Sunday.

The river is expected to remain swollen for the next few days, said spokesman Jesse Schmidt.

Rain forecast for Sunday had raised flooding fears along the Red River, where recreational boating was barred in several counties. But the worst of the predictions seems not to have materialized.

The area could get up to half an inch of rain Sunday, Schmidt said.

The region usually has seasonal flooding after warm weather and rain melts snow in early spring.

Officials in Moorhead, Minnesota, across the border from Fargo, also were coping with the flooding, a repeat from 2010 and 2009. The Red River crested at nearly 41 feet in 2009.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, talked Saturday about improved levees and preparations.

Still, she said, three people have died in Minnesota because of the flooding.

"This is a ferocious river," Klobuchar said. "We have to continue to be careful."

Other Minnesota officials talked about the need for more flood mitigation.

The U.S. Coast Guard said one of its crews rescued rescued five people along the Red River Saturday -- one resident and four responders.

In Cass County, north of Fargo, residents placed sandbags along flooded streams and roads and used all-terrain vehicles to reach their homes.

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More flooding forecast along Red River North

Red River expected to crest on North Dakota-Minnesota border By the CNN Wire Staff STORY HIGHLIGHTSSeasonal flooding has hit communities in upper MidwestThree people have died in Minnesota (CNN) -- Rain forecast for Sunday could add to flooding woes along the Red River in Minnesota and North Dakota, where recreational boating was barred in several counties.

The river, which forms the border between the two states, is expected to crest at near 40 feet in Fargo, North Dakota, early Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. The temporary levee there is about 44 feet.

The river is expected to run high for the next several days.

The region usually has seasonal flooding after warm weather and rain melt snow in early spring.

Officials in Moorhead, Minnesota, across the border from Fargo, also were coping with the flooding, a repeat from 2010 and 2009. The Red River crested at nearly 41 feet in 2009.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar talked Saturday about improved levees and preparations.

Still, she said, three people have died in Minnesota because of the flooding.

"This is a ferocious river," Klobuchar said. "We have to continue to be careful."

Other Minnesota officials talked about the need for more flood mitigation.

The U.S. Coast Guard banned recreational boat traffic in several North Dakota counties.

In Cass County, north of Fargo, residents placed sandbags along flooded streams and roads and used all-terrain vehicles to reach their homes.

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