Created: 03/10/2010 10:40 PM KSTC45.com | Print Story By: Chris O'Connell and Becky Nahm

Newport not allowing reinforcement of flood levees

The levee system in Newport is in such poor shape, officials are not allowing residents to fortify it with sandbags.

City Administrator Brian Anderson said, "The levee became and is unstable so the last thing we want to do is put additional weight on the levee and have people standing out there on the levee."

The levee system is the only thing holding the Mississippi River in its banks. It was built in 1971 as a temporary fix and has since deteriorated.

Anderson said the city is providing sand and bags for residents to use around their homes. And, the city is giving regular updates on flood stages.

"From an operations management standpoint we are doing what we can. We are protecting the residents the best we can," said Anderson.

Residents are hoping the city is right. But some still have concerns.

Nick Hanner is expecting the worst for his elderly parents who live on the lowest lying land in the City of Newport.

Hanner said, "(we'll) just put up with what mother nature has to dish out."

Newport is working on long-term plan with help from the City of Moorhead.

Under one proposal, the city would purchase up to a dozen homes in the next few years and build a permanent levee system.