 Another River Town Braces for Historic Flooding
from YouTube :: Videos by AssociatedPress
June 16, 2008
SelectPlusAnother River Town Braces for Historic FloodingAnother River Town Braces for Historic FloodingThe Associated PressAs the flood threat spreads south along the Mississippi River, more towns are on high alert and getting ready for record-high water. AP correspondent Jason Bronis is watching preparations in Quincy, Illinois.IN QUINCY, ILLINOIS, THEY KNOW WHAT'S COMING.THE MISSISSIPPI IS ALREADY SWOLLEN, AND IT'S CREEPING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THIS TOWN OF 40-THOUSAND.((NATS))Shovel.((SOT))((Covered))"We've been going since 6 a-m Friday."((TRACK))((VO of people making sandbags.))WITH A POTENTIALLY MASSIVE FLOOD JUST HOURS AWAY ...((SOT))((Covered))"We intend to go through the duration of the flood."((TRACK))((VO of people making sandbags.))QUINCY IS MAKING EVERY HOUR COUNT.AT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTER, SOME TWO THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS HAVE CRANKED OUT SANDBAGS AT A RATE OF FOUR THOUSAND EACH HOUR.((SOT))((SUPER: John Spring/Mayor))"I've had people drive from Kansas City to help us. I've had folks from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who couldn't do anymore up there so they came here."((TRACK))((VO of people making sandbags, trucks carrying sandbags, man walking.))VOLUNTEERS MAKE FAR MORE SANDBAGS THAN THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEIR TOWN.SO, THEY SHARE, TRUCKING BAGS TO TOWNS UP AND DOWN THE RIVER.STATE SENATOR JOHN SULLIVAN'S DISTRICT SPANS A WIDE RANGE OF THE AREA NOW ON ALERT.((SOT))((SUPER: John Sullivan/State Senator))"Without these folks, we don't even have a fighting chance. With their help, we have a chance to save these levees."((TRACK))((VO of people filling sandbags, river, stop sign under water.))IF IT SEEMS LIKE FOLKS HERE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING A FLOOD, THERE'S A REASON WHY.THEY DON'T MEASURE THE COMING CREST IN FEET OR DAMAGE POTENTIAL.INSTEAD, THEY COMPARE IT TO THE LAST RECORD-BREAKING FLOOD JUST 15 YEARS AGO.((SOT))((Sullivan))"We definitely know the levees are in better shape then they were in '93, but we don't know what Mother Nature's gonna throw at us."((SOT))((Covered))"I look at '93 compared to right now, and we're not far off."((TRACK))((VO of woman, family shoveling sand.))IN 19-93, JAMIE O'NEAL BAGGED SAND AS A TEEN.SHE RETURNED SUNDAY WITH HER FIVE CHILDREN TO HELP HER TOWN, WHILE TEACHING HER KIDS AN IMPORTANT LESSON.((SOT))((SUPER: Jamie O'Neal/Resident))"I look at my kids going, 'It's fun to sand bag,' and I'm like, 'Well, keep doing it,' because it's needed, but it's still scary."((STANDUP))((SUPER: Jason Bronis/Quincy, Ill.))Folks here in Quincy and all along the Mississippi River will say it over and over again. They have plenty of practice when it comes to historic floods. The question now ... Will all that practice pay off in 2008? JB, the AP, Quincy, Illinois. Author: AssociatedPress Keywords: flooding preps river braces historic Added: June 16, 2008
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