Sandbags in place in Savanna as officials, residents wait for Mississippi River to crest

SAVANNA – Savanna officials began preparing for the expected rise in the Mississippi River several weeks ago. On Saturday evening, a large part of that preparation was finished.

“We have completed our sand bagging efforts downtown and will no longer need volunteers,” the Savanna Fire Department posted on social media. “A huge thank you to everyone who came down to help. We are overwhelmed by the support from everyone, we could not have accomplished what we have in such a short time without all you!”

Earlier in the day, firefighter Gene Gonyier was busy directing inmates from Kewanee as he and other volunteers added to a 750-foot long wall behind the 300 and 400 blocks of Main Street.

Water levels in Savanna were expected to reach the 20.87-foot level of the 2019 flood by Wednesday, April 26.

According to the National Weather Service the spring flood risk is still well above normal for the Mississippi River and near normal for its tributaries.

“The snowmelt has largely finished up north and water is moving into the tributaries. The initial snowmelt absorbed well into thawed ground, until ground became saturated. Fresh snow fall over the past week blanketed much of Wisconsin and Minnesota with 6-plus inches of snow and added an inch or more of snow water equivalent (SWE). Additional rain also fell across the northern portion of the basin, contributing to increased anticipated crests. The rate of snowmelt has been high over the past few days, and will continue into the weekend. We are expecting chances for rain to fall in the upper basin from Friday (April 28) to Monday (May 1),” the NWS said on their website.