Flood developments

Last update: June 17, 2008 - 10:29 PM

MISSISSIPPI RIVER TOWNS THREATENED

Floodwaters that wreaked havoc along Illinois and Iowa rivers have poured into the Mississippi, creating a torrent of water that threatens to spread the misery to historic riverside towns on the way to St. Louis and beyond. Early Tuesday, a levee burst near Gulfport, Ill., flooding thousands of acres of the country's most fertile farmland, swamping the downtown and forcing the closure of highways, rail lines and a major bridge across the Mississippi. The flooding covered tiny Gulfport and the surrounding area with 10 feet of water.

BUSH WILL TRAVEL TO IOWA THURSDAY

President Bush pledged housing help and other federal aid to victims of Midwest storms and said he would inspect flood damage in a trip to Iowa on Thursday.

He said the government was providing a variety of aid, including 2 million liters of drinking water for people in Iowa. "We're in constant contact with people on the ground to help make sure that we save lives," Bush said.

ESTIMATES OF FLOOD DAMAGE

Preliminary estimates were that the flooding has caused more than $1.5 billion in damage in Iowa, and that figure will undoubtedly rise as the high water moves downstream.

Still, officials said the cost would have been even higher if the federal government had not purchased low-lying land after the 1993 deluge, which caused $12 billion in damage. Since then, the government has bought out more than 9,000 homeowners, turning much of the land into parks and undeveloped areas that can be allowed to flood with less risk.

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

With 10,500 students enrolled for the summer, university officials said Tuesday that the school will not close because of the floods. Officials said they're not yet sure where the classes will be held. The same holds true for the fall semester. The university confirmed that more than $300 million in artwork was sent to Chicago for safekeeping.

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