Gulfport Two levees in western Illinois have been breached and 30 more could overflow along the Mississippi, forcing thousands of residents to abandon their homes. Storms and flooding have been responsible for the deaths of 24 people and for causing 148 injuries in six states since June 6.

Meyer, which has a population of about 40, was evacuated after concern that the floodwater could cover about 30,000 acres of land around the hamlet, Julie Shepard, a spokeswoman for the Adams County Emergency Management Agency, said. The levees in danger of being breached are in place to protect industrial and agricultural land. Sandbags are being used to try to prevent them from overflowing.

In Clarksville, Missouri, members of the National Guard, inmates and students were putting out sandbags to protect the shops of craftsmen in the historic artists’ town.

Flooding in eastern Iowa has caused more than $1.5 billion of damage. About 25,000 people in Cedar Rapids had to abandon their homes, buildings at the University of Iowa were flooded and water treatment plants in several cities were damaged. (AP)