Small towns suffer big losses as rivers rise

"As floodwaters take aim at the tiny towns lining the Mississippi River, the heartland ethic of neighbors helping neighbors is proving to be a potent force against the rising water."

Mississippi overflows levees, crops threatened

"The swollen Mississippi River ran over the top of at least 11 more levees on Wednesday as floodwaters swallowed up more U.S. farmland, adding to billion-dollar losses and feeding global food inflation fears."

Mississippi River levees break, more at risk

"The swollen Mississippi River ran over the top of at least nine more levees on Wednesday as floodwaters swallowed up more U.S. farmland, feeding inflation fears as corn prices soared to a record high."

Hundreds ordered to flee homes in Iowa City

A sign outside the Iowa Welcome Center is paritally submerged in flood water from the Mississippi River Sunday, June 15, 2008 in Burlington, Iowa. Receding water on Sunday revealed the widespread damage caused by a record flood crest, while other Iowa cities faced rivers that were still rising. Burlington is expecting a flood crest in the Mississippi River within the next couple of days. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)