With the water levels rising along the Missouri River, many towns along its banks have been and/or could be affected if levees are breached or penetrated.
President of the Saline-Lafayette Levee District Kelly Thorp says they are in the process of preparing sandbags to be placed where they are needed- provided they can access the locations.

Thorp says there is a secondary levee that helps protect the area.

Thorp says the forecast was for a crest of 30.3 feet- but they are already at 30.38 feet- which is more than 10 feet above flood stage. Board member Mike Arth says it’s not just about rainfall, but also the area could be affected by releases up river in Missouri and Kansas. Arth says they have sandbags to hold it up to 31.6 feet. He said if the first levee is breached, they want to have sandbags ready to put on top of the secondary levee.
Thorp says they are probably good for today on the amount of people (about 20 to 30) sandbagging at the site, just north of Grand Pass on Route T. He said they won’t bag again until they see a bad forecast for the river. He says if anybody wants to volunteer to help, call him at (660) 641-2313.
 
 
 
Top picture: Volunteers work on filling sandbags just north of Grand Pass. Bottom picture: Missouri River water is standing on some farmland.