Lady of the Levee

That's what Lois Deprima is called these days. Lois is a good friend who has helped as a volunteer at the "Nauvoo Pageant" every year. She can usually be seen taking orders at the concession stand or sitting behind a cash register. Her regular summer is filled with her work at the "Summer Kitchen" put on by the Community of Christ Church behind the Joseph Smith Family Homestead. But today and everyday since the flooding began she has been "babysitting" the levee by the Nauvoo House.

She watches for leaks, Seepage and believe it or not Muskrats. Seriously, I guess the muskrats like to burrow under the Levee and that starts a chain reaction that we can't afford.

According to this little marker the water has crested and is starting to go down but it's a slow process. About an quarter inch every couple of hours.
This is the fence behind the Joseph Smith Family Homestead, just below the family cemetery.
Sandbags just in case, rumor is there is rain up north. I sure hope not.
Seepage behind Nauvoo House.
Seepage from underground.

Lois stays all night at the Nauvoo House keeping watch. Her home is down on Sycamore Haven. It is blocked by flood waters, so for her to return home each night is quite an ordeal. Plus somebody needs to be there and Lois is always willing to help where needed.