Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

October 13, 2008 2:11:50 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Ragtag Levees Leave Midwest Soaking

Posted Jun 22, 08 10:18 AM CDT in Technology,  US 

(Newser) – As the Midwest battles massive flooding, the New York Times looks at the region's patchwork of homemade levees—which fail to meet federal standards and tend to spring unexpected leaks. Bill Clinton's White House advised a uniform levy system 15 years ago, but the report was read and forgotten. “We told them there were going to be more floods like this,” an engineering professor said.

“Everybody likes to go out and shake hands on the levee now and offer sandbags, but that’s not helpful," he added. "This shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

Source New York Times

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • What to Do With the Sandbags?

    Jun 24, 08 8:32 AM CDT
    What to Do With the Sandbags? Sandbags were saviors for many in the Midwest flooding—but as the waters recede, the hefty lumps remain, often weighed down by all the toxins in the water, the Washington Post reports. Bags can weigh 60-80 pounds even when dry, so heaving one after another to the curb for pickup is a serious task, especially without the hordes of adrenaline-driven volunteers rushing to protect communities. More »

  • A Sandbagger Reflects

    Jun 21, 08 8:45 AM CDT
    A Sandbagger Reflects Even when it proves futile, sandbagging is an experience with its own unique rewards, writes an Iowa resident in the New York Times. “Passing sandbags is a personal thing,” Joe Blair notes in an essay. “The line may be 300 feet long,” but for you, “it’s intimate, a three-person event. You take. You turn. You give. You get to know people.” The levee overflowed despite their efforts, but Blair's at peace with that. More »

  • Bush to Visit Flood-Battered Midwest

    Jun 19, 08 5:51 AM CDT
    Bush to Visit Flood-Battered Midwest President Bush will visit flood-hit Iowa today to inspect the damage and consult with officials, Reuters reports. The state, along with much of the Midwest, has suffered the worst flooding in at least 15 years. Millions of acres of farmland have been flooded. Pressure on politicians to provide relief is growing. John McCain also plans to pay struggling Iowans a visit today. More »

  • 19 Levees Now Breached

    Jun 18, 08 1:20 PM CDT
    19 Levees Now Breached More levee breaks in Missouri and Illinois today put at 19 the number that have failed along the cresting Mississippi, Reuters reports, further swamping farmland. "They were lower level agricultural levees," said an Army Corps of Engineers spokesman. "We're also watching another seven levees that may overtop in the next couple of days … all agricultural levees." More »

  • Food Prices Rising Along With Floodwaters

    Jun 17, 08 8:00 PM CDT
    Food Prices Rising Along With Floodwaters Rising floodwaters in the Midwest spread over thousands more acres of farmland today, leading to record or near-record prices for corn, soybeans, and cattle and hog futures, Reuters reports. President Bush promised quick federal aid and will visit Iowa on Thursday. That's not enough for Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who blasted the president for learning nothing from Katrina. The US budget, he says, "does not add one thin dime for a boost in levee funding." More »

Prison inmate volunteers shore up a levee with sandbags on Saturday, June 21, 2008 north of Foley, Mo.   (AP Photo)
Doug Smith and Debbie Hall put a protective cover over the sand bag levee being built around the town of in Hamburg, Ill. on Friday, June 20, 2008.   (AP Photo)
Tire tracks from heavy equipment scar a farmers field as a levee continues to hold back flood waters from the Mississippi River, Thursday, June 19, 2008 south of La Grange, Mo.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 6)

Tags

Iowa  • disaster  • Illinois  • flooding  • Missouri  • levees  • Midwest floods


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other US Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »