The city of Davenport is preparing for a flood fight. Mike Clarke is the city’s public works director. He says holding back the rising Mississippi is his department’s top priority right now.

Parts of two low-lying streets are already under water and the National Weather Service says the river will be near the 15-foot flood stage on April 1st. Clarke says he doesn’t trust Mother Nature, so he’ll be ready for 16 feet. An emergency operations center has opened, jail inmates are filling sandbags and a floodwall is being erected to keep the entrance to the city’s riverfront baseball park dry.

By Phil Roberts, Davenport