Davenport, on the brink of the Mississippi, readies for cleanup

Davenport resident Louis Ogden rows his boat through floodwaters on Tuesday

DAVENPORT, Iowa (CNN) -- The 1,200-foot dike keeping the Mississippi River away from downtown Davenport, Iowa, was holding Wednesday morning as the swollen river stayed at a crest level inches short of a record.

With days to go before the water recedes, residents looked to cleaning up the debris carried into the city by the brimming river.

Early Wednesday, the river at Davenport was at 22.5 feet, the third highest level ever recorded. The record, 22.6 feet, was set in 1993.

"It could stay above flood stage well into May," said Lt. Cmdr. Tom Thomas of the U.S. Coast Guard. "We'll be here as long as we're needed."

VIDEO CNN's Lilian Kim says crews are on high alert, hoping the temporary flood wall holds for a few days (April 25) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Davenport may flood because the city government prefers tourist and business dollars over an occasional disaster. CNN's Lilian Kim reports Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    INTERACTIVE Techniques for fighting floodwaters    CNN WEATHER FORECASTS Davenport, IA La Crosse, WI Shakopee, WI Grand Forks, ND Granite Falls, MN    RESOURCES CNN weather satellite: U.S. North Central TheIowaChannel.com - Worst Mississippi Flooding Hitting Quad Cities   ALSO Mississippi crest danger recedes as it moves downriver Tired, but not defeated, flood victims ready to rebuild

The river crested on Tuesday from the towns of Camanche through Davenport and downriver to Illinois City, and was expected to reach the high-water mark as far downstream as Burlington late Wednesday.

Iowa Gov. Tom Villsack, who declared the 10 Iowa counties along the river disaster areas as the crest approached last week, formally asked the federal government for disaster relief on Tuesday.

On Thursday, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) director Joe Allbaugh is to visit the area to assess damage. On Monday, Allbaugh generated controversy and the wrath of Davenport Mayor Phil Yerington when he suggested the city build a permanent flood wall rather than depend on American taxpayers to pay the bill when the inevitable flood devastates the city.

"We're a river town, that's who we are," Yerington said at a news conference on Tuesday. "I don't think you punish people because of where they live."

City officials pointed out that Davenport had taken a number of steps to alleviate flood damage, such as spending more than $1 million since the 1993 flood to buy homes in flood-prone areas and setting more strict regulations for new construction.

But those measures fall short of building a flood wall that Yerington said would not only affect Davenport's ability to draw tourist and casino dollars to the riverfront, but would also push floodwaters farther downstream to smaller communities that also lack such protective construction.

"If we build a big a big flood wall here, does FEMA go tell Buffalo and Muscatine and Burlington that you have to do the same thing -- and then where does it end?" Yerington said.

River crests earlier than expected in Davenport
April 24, 2001
Mississippi breaches levee in town near Davenport
April 23, 2001
Davenport ballpark flooded as Guard sends more troops
April 22, 2001
Iowa levees feel weight of Mississippi
April 21, 2001
More rain forecast for flooded Midwest
April 20, 2001
Long weekend of rain threatens flooded Midwest
April 19, 2001

Federal Emergency Management Agency
Iowa National Guard
Minnesota Department of Public Safety
The National Weather Servicee
Quad City Times Newspaper
  • Flood2001.com

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