Sand boil contained

Members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work to contain a sand boil at the base of the Mississippi River Levee at New Madrid Thursday afternoon. Jamie Evans (standing lower right) directs the placement of sandbags by Bryan Putt as Nick Schrup (standing upper left) and Randy Clark (standing upper right) wait with additional bags. By raising the water level around the sand boil, Evans said, they will slow the seepage of sand from the hole and preventing a weakening of the levee. The river is expected to crest at 43.5 feet on March 3.

Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

Members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work to contain a sand boil at the base of the Mississippi River Levee at New Madrid Thursday afternoon. Jamie Evans (standing lower right) directs the placement of sandbags by Bryan Putt as Nick Schrup (standing upper left) and Randy Clark (standing upper right) wait with additional bags. The sand boil is due to pressure of the rising water against the river levee. By raising the water level around the sand boil, Evans said, they will slow the seepage of sand from the hole and preventing a weakening of the levee. The river is expected to crest at 43.5 feet on March 3.