The south side of downtown Hamburg, Iowa, is flooded after the Missouri River went over the town's protective levee on Sunday.
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People in Hamburg, Iowa, put up a barrier to keep the floodwaters from moving farther into town on Sunday.
RYAN SODERLIN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Elizabeth Howell, left, walks her dog Jojo as she and Jayme Anderson, both of Hamburg, Iowa, inspect the level of the Nishnabotna River on Sunday. The south side of the city was flooded when a levee overtopped. Anderson said the flooding was heartbreaking, but "the Missouri hasn't got us down yet, and we're not about to let it now."
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Businesses on the southwest side of Hamburg, Iowa, were flooded on Sunday.
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Volunteers transport sandbags to where they are needed in Hamburg, Iowa. The southern end of the city flooded on Sunday.
RYAN SODERLIN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Lana Brandt, 70, of Hamburg, Iowa, checks out the rising water on the south side of the city on Sunday.
RYAN SODERLIN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Seen from the east, water from the swelling Missouri River pours over the levee protecting Hamburg, Iowa, on Sunday, March 17, about 3:15 p.m.
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The people of Hamburg, Iowa, build a wall to keep out floodwaters on Sunday.
RYAN SODERLIN/THE WORLD-HERALD
People in Hamburg, Iowa, fill sandbags and build a wall to defend the town from floodwaters on Sunday.
Levee breaks occurred again Sunday as historic flooding continued in Nebraska, Iowa and nearby states. Conditions won’t be safe until water is off the levees, and that may not happen for days.
On Sunday, the levee overtopped at Hamburg, Iowa, and water flowed into the south end of town, flooding homes, a cafe and other local businesses.
A hastily made earthen berm protected the water plant, as the floodwater continued to slowly rise.
It was the worst flooding in many years, said Lana Brandt, 70.
She said Hamburg is getting help from its neighbors. People from as far away as Omaha have offered to help with sandbags, as have students from nearby towns like Sidney and Tabor.
“We’re an older community, so many of us can’t do sandbags anymore,” she said. “We count on people helping us.”
Brandt, who has lived in Hamburg all her life, noted that the town withstood the 2011 Missouri River flood for months by piling extra dirt on top of the almost 2-mile-long levee on the west side of town. Locals wanted to keep the higher levee, but federal officials said they would have to make about $5.5 million in improvements. That was too costly, so the levee was lowered to its pre-flood height.
“The government made us tear the top off of the levee and bring it down to stump size,” Brandt said. “And so the water’s rushing over the levee now. Whereas, if we had been able to keep that levee, we might have been able to keep our community dry, and we wouldn’t lose businesses and property and crops. This is huge.”
People watch from the Huron Street bridge as water from Willow Creek flows just under a bridge in Missouri Valley, Iowa, on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.
Standing water from melting snow and rain reflects the evening sky as a truck travels north on Highway 275 near Fremont, Nebraska, on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.
Crews from Ashland, Mead and Yutan Fire and Rescue assist with evacuations in Ashland. Sixteen temporary shelters in Nebraska opened to take in such evacuees.
Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Keith Bell surveys the water levels as floodwaters continue to rise near Salt Creek in Ashland, Nebraska, on March 14, 2019.
Sean Hanger, of Ashland, and his son Aiden navigate the floodwaters that continue to rise near Jack Anderson Ball Park in Ashland, Nebraska, on March 14, 2019.
Both Iowa and Nebraska were hit hard by flooding earlier this year and are in need of the disaster aid. Bell Creek, on the east side of Arlington, Nebraska, flooded parts of the town in March 2019.
Blake Japp pulls his remote-controlled truck out of the water while playing in the shallow floodwaters of Bell Creek on Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Arlington, Nebraska.
Brent Schwindt of Norfolk, Nebraska, holds his son Paul, 4 months, as his wife, Lacey Hansen, sleeps on a blow up mattress at Lutheran High Northeast on Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Norfolk. The school was being used as an evacuation shelter for people affected by flooding in the area.
Motorists are forced to turn around as West Maple Road west of 216th Street is closed as floodwaters rise over the road near the Elkhorn River in Elkhorn, Nebraska, Friday, March 15, 2019.
A crowd of people gather to overlook the floodwaters that continue to rise along the Missouri River in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, on Friday, March 15, 2019.
Adam Jensen races to load his Lincoln Navigator outside his home near Mayne and Condron Streets in Valley, Nebraska. With three kids and a dog they plan to head to a hotel in Iowa. Valley residents were ordered to evacuate because of flooding on Friday, March 15, 2019.
Paul Schmidt walks with his children Calvin and Avery while looking back at floodwaters over Broad Street in Fremont Nebraska on Friday, March 15, 2019.
At sunrise, Norfolk City Engineer Steven Rames inspects the levy next to Northeast Community College on Friday, March 15, 2019, in Norfolk, Nebraska. Rames said that the levy was stable and that the water had dropped 8 to 9 feet.
Volunteers race to stave off floodwater by sandbagging along Old U.S. Highway 275 between Morningside Road and Downing Street in Fremont, Nebraska, on Saturday, March 16, 2019.
Anthony Thomson, left, and Melody Walton make their way out of the flooded blocks near 1st and M Streets after a visit to Melody's house where they loaded up supplies in Fremont, Nebraska on Saturday, March 16, 2019.
A crowd gathers to watch residents make their way in and out of the flooded blocks near 1st and M Streets in Fremont, Nebraska on Saturday, March 16, 2019.
Bonnie Warner, Barb Pierce, Katie Cameron and Amanda Pierce cheer for a convoy of Hy-Vee trucks escorted by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Army National on Sunday, March 17, 2019. The trucks delivered much needed supplies to the city that was surrounded by floodwaters.
Hy-Vee staff rush to offload a convoy of trucks that were escorted by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Army National Guard Sunday, March 17, 2019 in Fremont, Neb. The trucks delivered much needed supplies to the city that was surrounded by floodwaters.
People gather in downtown Hamburg, Iowa to watch the floodwaters creep closer to a barrier built on Sunday, March 17, 2019. The levee protecting the town from the floodwaters of the Missouri River broke, flooding the town.
Paul and Margaret Vorthmann's flood damaged home in shown in Missouri Valley, Iowa on Monday March 19, 2019. The family began the process to salvage items from the home and clean.
Amelia Fritz, left, hugs her daughter Heather Rockwell in Glenwood, Iowa on Monday, March 18, 2019. They were evacuated from Pacific Junction, Iowa after floodwaters hit the town. They are part of 15 relatives all staying in the same house or in a camper in the front driveway.
Residents such as Andrew Bauer and Shawn Shonerd of the Bellwood Lakes neighborhood are among some who can only access their home by boat on Monday March 18, 2019.
Shawn Shonerd, left, and his partner Andrew Bauer, who live in Bellwood Lakes are surrounded by large chunks of ice Monday March 18, 2019 after the historic flooding along the Platte River days prior in Bellwood, Nebraska.
Two vehicles on the property of Duane Graybill are in disarray in Bellwood, Nebraska, Monday, March 18 after flooding hit the Bellwood Lakes neighborhood.
Kelcie Keeling holds a Nebraska necklace. Keeling has led the effort of donations that are available for those in need at the Butler County Event Center in David City, Nebraska, Monday, March 18, 2019.
A Canada goose flies over Matthew J. Placzek's "Monument to Labor" sculpture as floodwaters from the Missouri River begin to recede on the Omaha riverfront on Tuesday, March 19, 2019.
Donated bottled water is donated at the North Bend Central Junior/Senior High School Tuesday, March 19, 2019 as residents deal with the aftermath of major flooding which occurred days earlier in North Bend, Nebraska.
Treyton Gubser, left, and his uncle Daniel Gubser paddle using shovels through the floodwaters after they rescued Daniel's kid's cat, Bob in Hamburg, Iowa on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.
Lori Steinauer walks through a patio area of her flooded cabin located in the Willow Point neighborhood in Ashland, Nebraska, Thursday, March 21, 2019.
Photos: Major flooding hit Nebraska and Iowa towns in March 2019
People watch from the Huron Street bridge as water from Willow Creek flows just under a bridge in Missouri Valley, Iowa, on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
The junction of Highway 275 and Highway 91 is flooded on Wednesday, March 13, 2019, just north of Scribner, Nebraska.
RYAN SODERLIN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Cody Stump walks through a flooded street in Hooper, Nebraska, on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.
RYAN SODERLIN, THE WORLD-HERALD
High water rolls through a street in Hooper, Nebraska, on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.
RYAN SODERLIN, THE WORLD-HERALD
High water floods a street in Hooper, Nebraska, near a trailer park on March 13, 2019.
RYAN SODERLIN, THE WORLD-HERALD
High water floods a street in Hooper, Nebraska, near an old bank building on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.
RYAN SODERLIN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Standing water from melting snow and rain reflects the evening sky as a truck travels north on Highway 275 near Fremont, Nebraska, on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.
RYAN SODERLIN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Crews from the Ashland, Mead and Yutan Fire and Rescue assist with evacuating the final residents in Ashland, Nebraska, on Thursday, March 14, 2019.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN, THE WORLD-HERAL
Crews from Ashland, Mead and Yutan Fire and Rescue assist with evacuations in Ashland. Sixteen temporary shelters in Nebraska opened to take in such evacuees.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Keith Bell surveys the water levels as floodwaters continue to rise near Salt Creek in Ashland, Nebraska, on March 14, 2019.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Sean Hanger, of Ashland, and his son Aiden navigate the floodwaters that continue to rise near Jack Anderson Ball Park in Ashland, Nebraska, on March 14, 2019.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN, THE WORLD-HERAL
Floodwaters continue to rise near Furnas and North 15th Streets in Ashland, Nebraska, on March 14, 2019.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Residents are rescued from a flooded area near Missouri Valley, Iowa, on March 14, 2019.
JOE DEJKA, THE WORLD-HERALD
Jenna Muntz stands behind a row of sandbags as she takes a photo of the rising floodwaters in Cedar Creek, Nebraska, on Thursday, March 14, 2019.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
A semitrailer truck that tried crossing Bell Creek in Arlington, Nebraska, was swept off the road by fast moving floodwaters.
RYAN SODERLIN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Both Iowa and Nebraska were hit hard by flooding earlier this year and are in need of the disaster aid. Bell Creek, on the east side of Arlington, Nebraska, flooded parts of the town in March 2019.
RYAN SODERLIN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Blake Japp pulls his remote-controlled truck out of the water while playing in the shallow floodwaters of Bell Creek on Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Arlington, Nebraska.
RYAN SODERLIN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Bell Creek, on the east side of Arlington, Nebraska, flooded parts of the town in March 2019.
RYAN SODERLIN, THE WORLD-HERALD
People navigate over giant chunks of ice that were thrown by floodwaters near River Resort in Yutan, Nebraska, on March 14, 2019.
JEFF BUNDY, THE WORLD-HERALD
A flooded home near Mosquito Creek in Council Bluffs on Thursday, March 14, 2019.
KENT SIEVERS, THE WORLD-HERALD
Two corn cobs float in floodwaters near Mosquito Creek in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Thursday, March 14, 2019.
KENT SIEVERS/THE WORLD-HERALD
A Blackhawk helicopter hovers over Waterloo on Friday, March 15, 2019.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
A cow makes his way through floodwaters near Columbus, Nebraska, on Friday, March 15, 2019.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
A house is surrounded by floodwaters near Waterloo, Nebraska, on Friday, March 15, 2019.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Floodwaters run through the town of Rogers, Nebraska, on Friday, March 15, 2019.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Highway 75's northbound lane is closed because of flooding near Merritt's Beach RV Park on Friday, March 15, 2019.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Cars drive drive across a flooded Platte River on Highway 50 just north of Louisville on Friday, March 15.
CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Water covers a road near Valley, Nebraska, on Friday, March 15, 2019.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Brent Schwindt of Norfolk, Nebraska, holds his son Paul, 4 months, as his wife, Lacey Hansen, sleeps on a blow up mattress at Lutheran High Northeast on Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Norfolk. The school was being used as an evacuation shelter for people affected by flooding in the area.
RYAN SODERLIN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Motorists are forced to turn around as West Maple Road west of 216th Street is closed as floodwaters rise over the road near the Elkhorn River in Elkhorn, Nebraska, Friday, March 15, 2019.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN/THE WORLD-HERAL
A crowd of people gather to overlook the floodwaters that continue to rise along the Missouri River in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, on Friday, March 15, 2019.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Homes, vehicles and RV's are submerged in floodwaters that continue to rise along the Missouri River in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Friday, March 15, 2019.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN/THE WORLD-HERAL
Adam Jensen races to load his Lincoln Navigator outside his home near Mayne and Condron Streets in Valley, Nebraska. With three kids and a dog they plan to head to a hotel in Iowa. Valley residents were ordered to evacuate because of flooding on Friday, March 15, 2019.
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CJ Cunningham holds his German shorthaired pointer Cazz after they were rescued from the King Lake area on Friday, March 15, 2019.
KENT SIEVERS/THE WORLD-HERALD
Water flows over Highway 30 between Fremont and Arlington, Nebraska on March 15.
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People keep an eye on floodwaters along Highway 30 between Fremont and Arlington, Nebraska on Friday, March 15, 2019.
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Horses belonging to Faye Etherington are brought into town through floodwaters on Highway 77 in Fremont, Nebraska, on Friday, March 15, 2019.
KENT SIEVERS, THE WORLD-HERALD
Paul Schmidt walks with his children Calvin and Avery while looking back at floodwaters over Broad Street in Fremont Nebraska on Friday, March 15, 2019.
KENT SIEVERS/THE WORLD-HERALD
At sunrise, Norfolk City Engineer Steven Rames inspects the levy next to Northeast Community College on Friday, March 15, 2019, in Norfolk, Nebraska. Rames said that the levy was stable and that the water had dropped 8 to 9 feet.
RYAN SODERLIN, THE WORLD-HERALD
A pickup is stranded on the east side of Norfolk, Nebraska, in floodwaters on Friday, March 15, 2019.
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Sarpy County Sheriff’s Deputy Darin Morrissey rides an ATV through floodwaters in Hawaiian Village on March 16.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Ron Eklund looks east at a flooded Main Street on the eastern edge of Plattsmouth on March 16.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Bo Staskiewicz helps out as volunteers filled sandbags on Main Street in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, on Saturday, March 16, 2019.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Volunteers race to stave off floodwater by sandbagging along Old U.S. Highway 275 between Morningside Road and Downing Street in Fremont, Nebraska, on Saturday, March 16, 2019.
KENT SIEVERS, THE WORLD-HERALD
Volunteers racing to stave off floodwaters take part in a sandbagging effort along Old U.S. Highway 275 in Fremont on March 16, 2019.
KENT SIEVERS, THE WORLD-HERALD
The Elkhorn River covers West Dodge Road on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
JEFF BUNDY, THE WORLD-HERALD
Floodwaters cover Valley, Nebraska, on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
JEFF BUNDY, THE WORLD-HERALD
Water runs through a breached levee near Ashland, Nebraska, on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
JEFF BUNDY, THE WORLD-HERALD
Luke Thomas and Air Force Tech Sgt. Vanessa Vidaurre look at a flooded portion of Offutt Air Force Base on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
Z LONG, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nearly 3,000 feet of Offutt Air Force Base's runway is now covered by the Missouri River on Sunday March 17, 2019.
Z LONG, THE WORLD-HERALD
Anthony Thomson, left, and Melody Walton make their way out of the flooded blocks near 1st and M Streets after a visit to Melody's house where they loaded up supplies in Fremont, Nebraska on Saturday, March 16, 2019.
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A crowd gathers to watch residents make their way in and out of the flooded blocks near 1st and M Streets in Fremont, Nebraska on Saturday, March 16, 2019.
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Floodwaters destroyed County Road 18 at U.S. Highway 30 near Fremont, Nebraska on Saturday, March 16, 2019.
KENT SIEVERS/THE WORLD-HERALD
Bonnie Warner, Barb Pierce, Katie Cameron and Amanda Pierce cheer for a convoy of Hy-Vee trucks escorted by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Army National on Sunday, March 17, 2019. The trucks delivered much needed supplies to the city that was surrounded by floodwaters.
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Hy-Vee staff rush to offload a convoy of trucks that were escorted by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Army National Guard Sunday, March 17, 2019 in Fremont, Neb. The trucks delivered much needed supplies to the city that was surrounded by floodwaters.
KENT SIEVERS/THE WORLD-HERALD
People in Hamburg, Iowa, fill sandbags and build a water retaining wall as they defend the town from floodwaters on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
RYAN SODERLIN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Interstate 29 west on Hamburg, Iowa, is submerged by floodwaters from the Missouri River on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
RYAN SODERLIN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Bradley Perry and other help to fill sandbags as the city of Hamburg, Iowa, fights to keep their town from flooding on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
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Water runs over the levee protecting Hamburg, Iowa, on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
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Lana Brandt of Hamburg, Iowa checks out the rising water on the south side of the city on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
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The sun begins to set on the Missouri River floodwaters west of Hamburg, Iowa, on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
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Businesses on the southwest side of Hamburg, Iowa, were flooded on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
RYAN SODERLIN/THE WORLD-HERALD
People gather in downtown Hamburg, Iowa to watch the floodwaters creep closer to a barrier built on Sunday, March 17, 2019. The levee protecting the town from the floodwaters of the Missouri River broke, flooding the town.
RYAN SODERLIN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Floodwaters from the Elkhorn River begin to recede, revealing a heavily damaged west Dodge road on Monday March 18, 2019.
JEFF BUNDY
Paul and Margaret Vorthmann's flood damaged home in shown in Missouri Valley, Iowa on Monday March 19, 2019. The family began the process to salvage items from the home and clean.
MEGAN MCGILL/THE WORLD-HERALD
Amelia Fritz, left, hugs her daughter Heather Rockwell in Glenwood, Iowa on Monday, March 18, 2019. They were evacuated from Pacific Junction, Iowa after floodwaters hit the town. They are part of 15 relatives all staying in the same house or in a camper in the front driveway.
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Residents such as Andrew Bauer and Shawn Shonerd of the Bellwood Lakes neighborhood are among some who can only access their home by boat on Monday March 18, 2019.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN/THE WORLD-HERAL
Shawn Shonerd, left, and his partner Andrew Bauer, who live in Bellwood Lakes are surrounded by large chunks of ice Monday March 18, 2019 after the historic flooding along the Platte River days prior in Bellwood, Nebraska.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN/THE WORLD-HERAL
Debris floats on the surface of water in the Bellwood Lakes neighborhood in Bellwood, Nebraska Monday, March 18, 2019.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN/THE WORLD-HERAL
Two vehicles on the property of Duane Graybill are in disarray in Bellwood, Nebraska, Monday, March 18 after flooding hit the Bellwood Lakes neighborhood.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN/THE WORLD-HERAL
Kelcie Keeling holds a Nebraska necklace. Keeling has led the effort of donations that are available for those in need at the Butler County Event Center in David City, Nebraska, Monday, March 18, 2019.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN/THE WORLD-HERAL
Tom Strigenzs talks about the four feet of floodwater that occupies the basement of his Hawaiian Village home on Tuesday, March 19, 2019.
CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
A Canada goose flies over Matthew J. Placzek's "Monument to Labor" sculpture as floodwaters from the Missouri River begin to recede on the Omaha riverfront on Tuesday, March 19, 2019.
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Jake Nebuda removes damaged items from the flooded basement of his brother Joe Nebuda's home in North Bend, Nebraska, Tuesday, March 19, 2019.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN/THE WORLD-HERAL
Donated bottled water is donated at the North Bend Central Junior/Senior High School Tuesday, March 19, 2019 as residents deal with the aftermath of major flooding which occurred days earlier in North Bend, Nebraska.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN/THE WORLD-HERAL
Samantha Wentz walks through floodwaters near 1st Street and Pierce Street in Fremont, Nebraska, Tuesday, March 19, 2019.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN/THE WORLD-HERAL
A vehicle is stuck in floodwaters near 1st Street and Pierce Street in Fremont, Nebraska, Tuesday, March 19, 2019.
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Melissa Lenagh waits for the owners of the pets she rescued from floodwaters to show up in Hamburg, Iowa on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.
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Treyton Gubser, left, and his uncle Daniel Gubser paddle using shovels through the floodwaters after they rescued Daniel's kid's cat, Bob in Hamburg, Iowa on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.
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Bob the cat looks on from a basket in a boat after being rescued from floodwaters in Hamburg, Iowa on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.
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People on a boat navigate through floodwaters that cover Washington Street in Hamburg, Iowa on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.
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The cab of a pickup truck peeks out of floodwaters in Hamburg, Iowa on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.
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Lori Steinauer walks through the kitchen of her flooded cabin in the Willow Point neighborhood near Ashland, Nebraska, Thursday, March 21, 2019.
BRENDAN SULLIVAN/THE WORLD-HERAL
Dave Ziola stands near a flooded home in the Willow Point neighborhood of Ashland, Nebraska Thursday, March 21, 2019.
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Lori Steinauer walks through a patio area of her flooded cabin located in the Willow Point neighborhood in Ashland, Nebraska, Thursday, March 21, 2019.
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An angel statuary sits in a flooded yard in the Hanson Lakes areas in Bellevue on Friday, March 22, 2019.
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Steve O'Donnell works to open the skylight of his parent's flooded house in the Hanson Lakes areas in Bellevue on Friday March 22, 2019.
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Steve O'Donnell exits his parent's flooded in the Hanson's Lake areas in Bellevue Friday, March 22, 2019.
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A basketball hoop is tipped over into floodwaters in the Hanson Lakes area near Bellevue, Neb. Friday, March 22, 2019.
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Tim Bazar of Bellevue stands on the back deck of his flooded house on Chalet Drive in the Hanson's Lake area in Bellevue on Friday, March 22, 2019.
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Taylor Parton, 67, who has lived in Hamburg for three years, praised its spirit.
“We all take care of each other,” he said as he looked toward the flooded southern edge of town. “We were all rubbing elbows, bagging sand together, helping each other out.”
The Army Corps of Engineers on Sunday warned that some 210 miles of levees along the Missouri River between Offutt Air Force Base and Leavenworth, Kansas, have been compromised. That stretch touches Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.
“The majority of the levee system along the Missouri River south of Omaha continues to deteriorate,” said Col. John Hudson, commander of the Omaha district of the Corps of Engineers. “The bulk of the levees are overtopped or breached.”
Most of the communities at risk have already flooded, Hudson said. Affected cities include Hamburg and Thurman in Iowa and Nebraska City and Brownville in Nebraska.
There are no plans to force a breach in any of the levees as a way of lowering flood levels, corps officials said.
Rain in the forecast
The National Weather Service said rain is moving into the area Monday night into Tuesday. On Monday, forecasters expect to have a good grasp on rainfall amounts, said Kevin Low, a hydrologist at the weather service. Early indications were that rainfall amounts would range from ¼ to ½ of an inch or more, he said. Light snow is also possible.
The forecast places most of the storm track over the watershed that feeds into the Missouri River at St. Joseph, Missouri, he said. The storm is expected to add about 0.1 of a foot to a half-foot of water from St. Joseph to Jefferson City, Missouri.
Gavins Point releases
The large dam that feeds water into the Missouri River continues to lower its releases after peaking at 100,000 cubic feet a second last week. The dam is a pass-through point for water from the Niobrara River.
Releases could be back to relatively normal later this week, according to Corps of Engineers projections.
Northern Plains and mountain snowmelt is expected to begin flowing into the upper Missouri next week. It is likely to result in minor flooding.
John Remus, who oversees the dams for the corps, said mountain and Plains snowpack is normal to slightly above normal and won’t overburden the reservoirs.
The corps has 97 percent of its flood storage space available behind dams, he said.
“We’re in good shape to capture that snowmelt,” Remus said.
A broken Missouri River gauge at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, has been fixed, and the gauge at Brownville, Nebraska, has been recalibrated. It was reading 0.4 of a foot too high, said Kellie Bergman, chief of the hydrologic engineering branch for the corps.
ice threat diminishes
Waterways in eastern Nebraska — the Elkhorn, Loup and Platte Rivers — have begun dropping, but the situation remains dicey, said David Pearson, a hydrologist at the weather service. On Sunday, a levee on the Platte River near North Bend was breached, he said.
“There are still some places that have had water on the levees for a long period of time, so it could just blow through,” Pearson said. Additionally, water continues to pour through holes in some levees, so floodwaters will continue to rise in those areas, he said.
River levels need to drop below the minor flood stage before the flood threat fully subsides, Pearson said.
Most of the ice in rivers has broken up and moved along, Pearson said. The main area of concern for ice jams is along the Elkhorn River upstream of Neligh, Nebraska, Pearson said.
“That’s the only place where we are aware there is quite a bit of ice,” he said. “We’re just not sure of the depth.”
The Missouri River is dropping by the hour, and that has helped, Pearson said.
Elizabeth Howell, left, walks her dog Jojo as she and Jayme Anderson, both of Hamburg, Iowa, inspect the level of the Nishnabotna River on Sunday. The south side of the city was flooded when a levee overtopped. Anderson said the flooding was heartbreaking, but "the Missouri hasn't got us down yet, and we're not about to let it now."