Vinton Nears Record Flood Levels

By Josh Hinkle, Anchor/Reporter

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By Josh Hinkle

Story Created: Apr 27, 2008 at 7:20 AM CST

Story Updated: Apr 27, 2008 at 7:20 AM CST

VINTON - Forecasters say the Benton County city could see record flood levels this weekend, rising to more than 20 feet. A flood warning remains in effect this weekend for the Cedar River in that area.

Residents there are in a race against time. Kim Frank and her daughter can fill up two sand bags a minute. They only hope that's fast enough.

She says, "It (the river) is really high and what they're predicting is kind of scary, so we're just trying to get ready."

Frank works at the local hospital, which some say stands to lose power, if the floodwaters continue rising.

Andrew Lent, Vinton's city coordinator, says, "The electric generation plant, we want to make sure it stays in operation, because it supplies the electricity to the city."

The plant is just across the street from the river, along with Vinton's fire station. Crews were up since dawn Saturday, bagging sand, to hold the water back.

Mike Phillips, a local funeral director, "City boys are running the show, but there's a lot of volunteers, too, which is nice."

With two dozen people at a time, they've already lost count of their progress.

Phillips adds, "Wouldn't have any idea. Hundreds. Thousands."

Nearby, hay bails have become islands, and entire farm fields are already underwater. Many compare it to the flood of 1993, when the river spilled over the shore into parts of the city.

Frank says, "We didn't help at that point. Didn't know about the sand bagging, so we thought we should probably pitch in now."

With an occasional break, the Franks watch the river slowly creep higher, praying it won't be as bad as before... until the next truckload of sand arrives. Then it's back to protecting the place they call home.

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