Volunteers from New Orleans to help flooded Missouri town

CLARKSVILLE — Volunteers from New Orleans are due in the northeast Missouri town of Clarksville to help with flood preparation.

Mayor Jo Anne Smiley says the volunteers are returning the favor their city got when it was swamped by Hurricane Katrina.

Clarksville is one of two northeast Missouri towns in the path of massive flooding where the Mississippi River is expected to crest at record levels. Five city blocks are already swamped. Smiley says Clarksville is doing all it can to prepare for Friday’s 38-foot crest.

She says people are e-mailing her prayers, which help.

Farther north in Canton, emergency management director Jeff McReynolds says preparations must be done before Wednesday’s crest. He’s worried that an expected 10 days of high water will place undue pressure on the levee.