Bob Franken: Iowa city breathes sigh of relief

Franken

CNN National Correspondent Bob Franken has been following the floodwaters down the swollen Mississippi River from Wisconsin to Davenport, Iowa.

Q: What's the mood in Davenport?

FRANKEN: Everybody is beginning to breathe a sigh of relief. They're not as concerned about whether they're going to be able to hold off the river. They feel like they've gotten the river beat because the levee is still holding. It's possible the river is going to stay up for quite a while, but they seem to think they have it licked.

It's a constant process to check the dikes because the river is still high. But the dikes are holding and there haven't been any serious problems.

Q: What is the biggest concern for residents?

FRANKEN: They're waiting until the river recedes to about 19 1/2 feet and then they're going to start really relaxing and plan the "recovery" and seek whatever federal money they can. They're concerned about whatever federal help they can get, which is why Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Joseph Allbaugh was in town.

Q: How was Allbaugh greeted in Davenport after his comments about taxpayers being tired of bailing out the same disaster victims time after time?

FRANKEN: Allbaugh and Davenport Mayor Phil Yerington couldn't do enough to be friendly to each other. They had engaged in an extremely public spat earlier in the week. Then they made up on the telephone and every chance they got during Allbaugh's visit, they expressed their friendship toward each other.

Q: Did they address the issue?

FRANKEN: They tried to refuse to talk about the entire argument, although Allbaugh really couldn't refuse to answer the questions and finally said he was not sorry that he had said what he said. He felt it was appropriate, but that it had been taken out of context by the media. Allbaugh said what he meant was that it applied to all parts of the country, not just to Davenport.

Q: How bad is the damage in Davenport?

FRANKEN: Where the river water has crept into buildings it has mucked them up. But there hasn't been that much of an evacuation here in Davenport. The serious evacuation I've seen and major damage to homes is upstream in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

Mississippi cresting in southeastern Iowa; flood threat lessens
April 25, 2001
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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