Clarksville is battling for its life.
The small community located on the Mississippi River between St. Louis and Hannibal has built a nine foot tall sandbag wall, attempting to keep floodwaters from inundating the town. National Guardsmen and volunteers hope to add a few more feet to the wall as the Mississippi keeps rising. The river is expected to crest Saturday at 38 feet, 13 feet above the flood stage of 25 feet.
Clarksville City Clerk Jennifer Calvin says the city lost one battle when the sewage lagoon failed. Portable toilets have been placed throughout the town, this time for the residents as well as the workers.
Clarksville, as with many cities along the Mississippi River, is in a critical stage attempting to keep the floodwaters from swamping the town.
Missourinet News Director Bob Priddy interviewed Calvin. Priddy asks Calvin to describe the situation now as compared with the official photograph of the town used on the City of Clarksville’s official Website .
Download/listen Bob Priddy interviews Jennifer Calvin (6 min. MP3)