A rapid increase in the level of the flood-swollen Missouri River where the Nebraska-Missouri border is formed has caused serious flooding. Levees on both the east and west banks have been overtopped by the 2 feet increase seen between Saturday morning and Sunday morning.
On the west bank, levee 548, near Nemaha, Neb, has been overtopped. The Army Corps of Engineers is reporting that the levee's maintenance sponsor is sandbagging in an attempt to stop the flow over the levee, about 30 feet in length. The Missouri broke its previous record crest here Sunday, rising to 44.9 feet. With flood stage at 33 feet, the river is projected to remain at least 10 feet higher for at least the next seven days, according to the National Weather Service.
On the east bank, a similar situation has occurred at levee 550 near Rockport, Mo. This is a much larger overtop, easily covering hundreds of feet of levee. Overtops, if left unchecked, will breech the levee at some point. The Missouri levels will be similar to those at Nemaha.
Earlier in the week, the levee on the east bank southwest of Craig, Mo. breeched. The breech is in the vicinity of Big Lake and is flooding the area between the original levee and a second, called the High Bank levee. That levee is being raised with sandbags to prevent further flooding. The Missouri in this area is at 25.3 feet, and is projected by the National Weather Service to come very close to a record crest by Monday morning.
The large breech just west of Hamburg, Iowa. remains open, according to FEMA. A secondary levee appears to be holding, and most of the water is contained between the Missouri River and just west of I-29.
There are two nuclear power plants along the Missouri River. The Fort Calhoun plant is operated by the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD). OPPD is addressing many rumors that have appeared on the Internet and has a flood web page and a rumor-debunking web page to provide the correct information. The agency has also posted a number of photos that show the flood control measures undertaken.
The Fort Calhoun nuclear plant is experiencing some flooding. The plant was shut down in April for refueling and remains shutdown. Extensive flood control measures have kept the vital areas of the plant dry, including the reactor and the spent fuel storage building.
The Nebraska Public Power District operates the Cooper Nuclear Station. The plant is built at an elevation of 903 feet above sea level. Personnel have issued a "notice of an unusual event" per their policies since the Missouri River has reached 899 feet above sea level. Flood control procedures have been underway at the plant since May 30. The utility does not expect that the Cooper Nuclear Station will be flooded but is prepared for that event.
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