The small northwest Missouri village of Big Lake is being evacuated as flood waters move in from a broken farm levee. Flooding also has closed Big Lake State Park, which is adjacent to the community of about 150 in Holt County, about forty miles north of St. Joseph.

Aerial photo taken early afternoon June 17 of the levee breach in Holt County. The breach is southwest of Craig, Mo.

Aerial photo taken early afternoon June 17 of the levee breach in Holt County. The breach is southwest of Craig, Mo.

The town and the park are threatened by a 150-foot breach of a farm levee.

Big Lake village is on the largest oxbow lake in Missouri, formed by a former section of the Missouri River that was left behind when the river changed channels many years ago.

State Department of Public Safety Spokesman Mike O’Connell says the village was flooded in 2008.

The breach is upstream from Big Lake Village, south of the confluence of the Missouri and the Tarkio rivers. The Tarkio River is also known as the “Big Tarkio.”

The breach is upstream from Big Lake Village, south of the confluence of the Missouri and the Tarkio rivers. The Tarkio River is also known as the “Big Tarkio.”

Some of the homes have been built on elevated foundations but others could get three to four feet of water in them. He says some people began moving possessions out of the town earlier this week.

Missouri State Highway Patrol photos, courtesy Department of Public Safety.

Bob Priddy talks to Mike O’Connell