Midwest Threatened by Continued Flooding

Heavy flooding continues to beset the Midwest, with the prospect of even more rain looming, the AP reports. In northern Illinois, 143,000 are still without power since storms hit Thursday. Rain has stopped, but flooding is still a danger for hundreds of thousands of people near swollen creeks and rivers; some rivers are approaching 50-year levels.

Storms are pushing south away from Illinois, but could pose a threat to other states where floodwaters are just starting to subside. FEMA is moving to expedite disaster relief efforts, evaluating damaged towns and establishing emergency recovery centers. "The people are really suffering," said a Wisconsin Emergency Management spokeswoman. "We have to move this along as fast as possible." (More Midwest stories.)