7/15/93

At least three levees in the area were reported to have topped out or broken Friday, according to sources.

Water was breaking over the levee Friday evening at Lima Lakes Drainage District at Meyer, Ill., according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Emergency Services office in Rock Island, Ill. The Lima Lake District covers about 13,189 acres.

Reportedly, water was also topping the Mississippi levee at Mark Bottoms, between Palmyra and West Quincy, on Friday night. The levee protects about 5,000 acres in that area.

Sheriff's officials south of Hannibal said a 200-foot hole broke Friday evening in the Sterling Harbor levee between Foley and Elsberry. Evacuations were reportedly being made of the east side of Winfield.

Levee workers in West Quincy reported at 9:45 p.m. Friday that the levee there was holding, but more volunteers were needed to work the levee.

"Right now, there are weak spots here and there," said Judy Miller, manning flood control phones at the Knapheide plant. "Wešre working Œround the clock. Wešre pretty positive wešre going to hold it, but anything can happen.

"We can use anybody and everybody. All we can get. Any and all help will be appreciated."