By Adam Allington, KWMU
SAINT LOUIS, MO – With floodwater now spilling across Missouri Highway 79 in multiple spots, some Lincoln County residents woke up to find themselves stranded
Ron Bradley and his wife Pam were forced to bring in groceries and supplies by boat.
"I had to go get some ice and groceries and things and gas, because it might be a week or two," said Bradley. "Because us people that live here we have to do this quick and get back before they block it off."
The National Guard has outposts set up around Highway 79 and is limiting access to residents only.
As of 12:00 on Sunday nearly all of the primary levees in Lincoln County had been breached to the point of complete failure.
Engineers are now starting to worry about the structural integrity of the secondary levee protecting the town of Winfield.
Andy Binder is with Lincoln County Emergency Operations Command.
"In Winfield we're noticing a lot of Saturation and that saturation is leading to a spongy feeling on the levees," said Binder. "So we can't bring up any heavy equipment for sandbagging operations-so all sandbagging is being done via the boat."
On Sunday engineers noticed sand boils behind the secondary levee-that's a bad sign indicating a week spot.
If the secondary levee in Winfield breaks, within 24 hours water could flood the city's downtown commercial district along Highway 79