Floodwater in northern Iowa and northern Illinois has begun to recede, but downstream riverfront towns in southern Illinois and Missouri are fighting peak-level water. On July 18, at least two Mississippi River levees were breached. More than two dozen remain in danger.
In Iowa, recent floods have caused an estimated $1.5 billion in damage, eliminating thousands of acres of crops and sending tens of thousands of residents from their homes.
Cities along the currently overwhelmed river raised and repaired levees following the severe floods of 1993. Many experts and residents predict the ongoing flooding will meet or exceed the 13-ft-plus cresting levels of 1993.
