Troubled Waters

St. Paul:
The river crested here last month and cleanup has begun. Barge traffic is moving again and a downtown airport, still partially submerged, has reopened.

Des Moines: Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink: Raccoon River overtopped a levee, contaminating water supply for 30 days.

West Quincy: The Bayview Bridge, the only river crossing for a 200-mile stretch, will be out of use for up to a month. A breached levee will allow the river to flood 14,000 acres of farmland.

Kansas City: The Turkey Creek Bridge sustained irreparable damage, blocking a crucial fire station.

Hannibal: The river's height rose to 500-year levels and more. Mark Twain's birthplace was sandbagged and survived, but tourist season likely a washout.

An unusual shift in the jet stream, acting as a barrier to a cool front, has brought 150% to 200% more rain than normal to the region.