Fears for Mississippi river as flood-hit Iowa cleans up

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AFP) — Officials warily eyed the mighty Mississippi River Monday swollen by days of flooding as waterlogged Iowan towns began a massive clean-up with damage set to run into billions of dollars.

With some 2,500 National Guard already deployed across the state trying to keep the floodwaters at bay, experts believe the Mississippi, the second longest river in the United States, could crest either Tuesday or Wednesday.

Iowa Governor Chet Culver warned the Mississippi would be the next battleground, as waters from already-overflowing tributaries poured into it.

"It's likely we'll see major flooding in every city on the border, from New Boston on down. We're very concerned about that," he said late Sunday.

The massive river, which passes...