National Guard in New Harmony
By: LaTonya Stephens
Updated: June 16, 2008
The National Guard uses their manpower to reinforce a levee in New Harmony.
More than a hundred guardsmen descended on the small town trying to get ahead of rising waters.
IN National Guard Brigadier General David Harris says they were afraid of rain coming across from Iowa and Illinois down into Kansas.
He says they were unsure whether the New Harmony levee would not be able to handle it.
So they set up a command center to reinforce the weak spots using more than 22-thousand sandbags to do it.
Harris says they wanted to protect the water system and the historic downtown district.
Luckily he says they were able to get ahead of rising waters.
The Guard says the Wabash river should crest at about 22 and a half feet but sandbagged the levee up to 24 feet.
Only a few guardsmen will stay behind over the next couple of days.
Watching the levee as the water starts to recede.
Emergency officials believe the river will crest sometime on Sunday.
