HAMBURG, Iowa (AP) – Floodwaters that breached a Missouri River levee near the Missouri-Iowa border are approaching a makeshift floodwall hurriedly built to protect the town of Hamburg.

Robert Michaels, the Army Corps of Engineers official who has overseen construction of the new levee, says the water is expected to reach the temporary structure guarding Hamburg sometime today (Thursday). The new levee was finished Wednesday, and most of those living in the threatened parts of town have cleared out.

Meanwhile, any hopes the breaches might alleviate the long-term flooding threat for communities downstream have been short-lived. River levels that dipped slightly from the release of pressure began their re-ascent Wednesday.