Friday, June 27th, 8:30pm - Operation New Levee started this morning. The purpose; to save the residential section of Winfield.

The donation of heavy duty machinery was impressive. We couldn't fill the pallets fast enough and they were gone. We had a great turn out sand bagging.

The New Levee: The operation to build a new levee is made of a series of plastic barriers filled with sand and pinned together with metal rods; started going up late this morning. The guard plans to erect about 1,600 feet of the barrier. I was told earlier this morning that their guess was that we could produce enough bags to make 300 feet of levee each hour. While the operation appears to be moving right along (as of 8pm this evening) the water is lapping at the sand bags.

I am VERY impressed with Col. Michele Melton, Army National Guard..."We've been here for nine days -- 24 hour operation," said Col. Michele Melton, Army National Guard. "We are not leaving at this time."

This effort is intense, while I've been bagging since last Tuesday, there appeared to be a more "serious purpose" this time around. We know the clock is against us.

Winfield has produced about 390,000 sand bags, since the flood had started, they picked up most of our stock pile of 30,000 that was made on Monday and Tuesday.

One of the officials came around and asked us to fill the sand bags only 1/2 full. They said they are easier to pack, because of how they are building the new levee.

I hear the numbers are pretty impressive on the levee. Man, I hope this works....I was so bummed out this morning, even though I had a feeling it wouldn't hold.

I saw a police car up ahead with it's light on, around 5:45 (or so) this morning and it turned and went into the residential area, I was thinking it was a looter. Coming down the hill on 47 toward 79 I can see the levee in the distance. I looked at where the slides has occured and didn't see any water. As I turned and traveled down 79 I caught a glimpse of something shiny on the levee in the corner. My wife called me a few minutes later and said "There was several emergency vehicles that past me like I was standing still." (she was also on her way to work).

I got the call at work around 6:45 that it went...

The pics this evening show some of the levee breach (look hard) the RR tracks made the shots hard to get from a moving car.

Before I went home from sand bagging I stopped and visited with the wonderful people at the Human Society. They have rescued over 40 animals so far.

We'll see what happens in the morning.....what a great feeling in this operation this evening. Very positive! We start again at 9am and work to 9pm.

Good night!