Federal relief chief tours Iowa, Illinois flood damage

Allbaugh congratulates Quad Cities residents for flood-fighting efforts on Thursday in Davenport, Iowa    ON THE NEWS Bob Franken: Iowa city breathes sigh of relief

In this story: Davenport damage 'minimal' Second crest approaching? RELATED STORIES, SITES

DAVENPORT, Iowa (CNN) -- Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Joe Allbaugh said on Thursday he came to flood-ravaged Iowa and Illinois to "listen and learn," not to argue the merits of permanent flood walls.

Davenport, Iowa, Mayor Phil Yerington appeared on friendly terms with Allbaugh after a day of public sparring on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, Allbaugh questioned "how many times will the American taxpayer have to step in and take care of this flooding, which could be easily prevented by building dikes and levees." The remarks drew sharp criticism from Yerington, who called them "insulting."

VIDEO CNN's Bob Franken reports on FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh's visit to the sandbagged town of Davenport, Iowa. Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Alexa Lee says floodwaters could stay high for several more weeks Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) 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)    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 KCCI, Iowa   • Davenport counts the damage WCCO, Minneapolis   • New flood forecasts    MESSAGE BOARD Flood bail out?

Davenport, the only major town on the upper Mississippi that has elected not to build a permanent flood wall, watched earlier this week as the Mississippi crested within inches of both a record-high water mark and the top of sandbag levees stacked to keep the water out of downtown.

But on Thursday, Allbaugh and Yerington shook hands and offered conciliatory words.

"I came here today to listen and learn and report back to the president," Allbaugh said. "I'm prepared ... to go back and report to the president that these folks have done a great job."

Allbaugh said it was "neither the time nor the place" to discuss his earlier comments, and congratulated officials in the Quad Cities area for the work they had done in preparation of floods.

Davenport damage 'minimal'

Yerington, who accompanied Allbaugh on a tour of his city along with Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and other officials, thanked Allbaugh for his time and said the tour showed the director "that we're not sitting idle."

"We were able to show him and the world that we are a river town, and we are able to hold our own and are not expecting a handout," the mayor said, adding that "for the first time in our history, we were able to battle the river to a tie."

"Our damage will be minimal," he said.

Allbaugh toured Keithsburg, Illinois, before crossing the river to Davenport.

Allbaugh said he would return to Washington and expedite requests from Vilsack and Illinois Gov. George H. Ryan quickly, but would not speculate on what his recommendations would be.

"I haven't seen the requests," he said.

Second crest approaching?

Many of those who live along the river take extraordinary precautions because of the possibility of flood -- the ground floors of their homes are often little more than a garage, and heating, air conditioning and electrical boxes are up high.

"That's part of living on the river," said Ron Lutz, an ex-fire chief who lives in nearby Pleasant Valley. "You just do what you have to do. If you want to live by the river, you got to like water."

Despite the precautions, the flood has caused hefty damage on its way toward the Gulf of Mexico. Six counties reviewed by state and federal officials in Iowa have taken a nearly $5 million hit so far, and more is likely to come.

Two Davenport, Iowa, residents unload gas used to fuel pumps inside their apartment building on Thursday

Davenport Public Works Director Dee Bruemmer said the city has spent more than $1 million to combat the floods, which peaked at 22.3 feet on Tuesday -- the third-highest flood ever to drench the Quad Cities area. Only 1965 (22.48 feet) and 1993 (22.6 feet) levels topped it.

The water was subsiding on Thursday, but upriver -- where floods spread late last week -- officials and residents were preparing for a second crest, higher than the first.

The Minnesota, Mississippi and St. Croix rivers in Minnesota were all rising again. The Minnesota in Mankata was heading for a crest on Friday at 11 feet above flood stage -- and a foot higher than the April 16 crest. In St. Paul, the Mississippi River was expected to crest again on Tuesday a foot-and-a-half above its April 18 crest.

In Davenport, officials expected a second crest, possibly by Sunday, but one a few inches lower than the recent 22.3-foot crest.

"On or about Sunday, there will be a second crest, but it won't be raising the river level," said Ross Bergen, with Scott County Emergency Management. "In other words, it's going to extend the current levels for a few more days."

He said the National Guard and Public Works personnel would continue to patrol the man-made levees in Davenport around the clock. He added sandbags were stockpiled in case any portion of the levees break.

"They're going to be under constant surveillance," Bergen said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expected to keep the river closed to navigation from Minneapolis to Guttenberg, Iowa, at least through mid-May.

Altogether, damage reports for Minnesota and Iowa are approaching $10 million.

CNN Correspondents Alexa Lee and Jeff Flock contributed to this report.

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

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