LINCOLN COUNTY, Mo. — In Winfield, they're pulling out plywood, hammering stakes into the ground, and screwing it all together to build a retaining wall on the Pin Oak Levee.
Assistant Fire Chief Aaron Lee said they got the idea for their plywood wall from their counterparts in St. Charles County, and they hope the method will save about forty homes.
Volunteers showed up in such high numbers Wednesday night, Lee triple-checked the estimated turnout — 75 people — when someone called to ask for marching orders.
Five volunteers were loaded into a boat with plywood and the third round of supplies to further reinforce the levee, though Lee said they need much more support over the next few days.
Thirteen miles upriver in Elsberry, Randy Sappington said he expects to flood every spring, but not with this amount for such a prolonged time.
"I've been boating out to my house since March 20," Randy Sappington said. "It just happens. It's happened forever. But back in the 70s and 80s, if it rained 6 inches, it would flood a foot. Now if it rains one inch, it floods a foot."
Sappington said most of his neighbors are "weekenders," as he calls them, but he lives here full-time, as does friend Tommy Hunkins who rides the high water with us Wednesday.
When asked if they've ever considered moving to higher, drier ground, Hunkins is fast with his answer: "Not me."
Elsberry and Winfield are both asking for more volunteers. If you would like to help, you can find updates on the Facebook pages for Winfield Foley Fire Protection District and Elsberry Fire Protection District page.