June 19, 2008

Flooding in the Nauvoo Area

As waters continue to rise on the Mississippi, hundreds of volunteers are working to save the Nauvoo House. Currently it has sustained no damage and it is the only building at the Joseph Smith Historic Site in danger of flooding.

“I am thrilled and extremely thankful for the response of the Nauvoo community during our time of need, including those who are a part of the community for only a few days or weeks,” said Lachlan Mackay, historic sites director. “The Nauvoo House is in good shape because they have generously shared their time and energy.”

Nauvoo House on Monday, June 16

Last Friday, after conversations with the Army Corps of Engineers, an engineer was on site to offer technical advice for supporting the levees. Barry Cuthbert began to line up sand bags and the Nauvoo mayor sent assistance in the form of the BYU Folk Dancers who had offered their help.

Our friends at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints generously hauled 150 cubic yards of sand to the volunteers waiting to bag it.  In addition to the folk dancers, the Bevell family, holding a family reunion in the Nauvoo House, joined in the effort to save the historic structure from the rising water. A 450’ berm was completed in just over 3 hours.

On Saturday, the Cedar Valley-Nauvoo Mission Center reunion began at Camp Nauvoo and offered to help in any way that was needed. “Their ongoing assistance has been invaluable. Whenever we have a need, the reunion members come en masse to fill sandbags, plug leaks, walk the levees with us and more,” said Mackay.

One reunion attendee is pastor of the Farmington, Iowa congregation and is a former national guardsman with decades of experience in very similar situations. His assistance in organizing volunteers has made efforts much more efficient.

Teams of two people walk the levees in 1-2 hours shifts around the clock to make sure they are holding and to check for leaks. “The reunion has also been feeding us morning, noon, and night while we walk the levees,” remarked Mackay.

The water level dropped about 1’ on Wednesday, mainly due to other levees bursting upstream. The water is expected to rise again on Thursday afternoon. At this time the reinforced levees are expected to hold.

Mackay shared, “We are so grateful for all the prayers lifted up on our behalf. We feel blessed beyond words to be part of such a community.”