2011 Spring Flooding: Sunday, May 1, 2011

Volunteers work through a downpour of rain Sunday, May 1, 2011 to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

Volunteers work through a downpour of rain Sunday, May 1, 2011 to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

Floodwaters in Olive Branch, Ill. continue to rise as it pours rain Sunday, May 1, 2011. Volunteers have been working to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

The Community Center in Olive Branch, Ill. provides shelter and replenishments to families affected by flooding and volunteers working in the floodwaters. (Laura Simon)

The Community Center in Olive Branch, Ill. provides shelter and replenishments to families affected by flooding and volunteers working in the floodwaters. (Laura Simon)

A levee made from sandbags separates floodwaters in Olive Branch, Ill. Sunday, May 1, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Volunteers work through a downpour of rain Sunday, May 1, 2011 to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

Sophie Quesenberry, left, and Faith Sheppard take a break inside the community center in Olive Branch, Ill. Sunday, May 1, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Floodwaters in Olive Branch, Ill. continue to rise as it pours rain Sunday, May 1, 2011. Volunteers have been working to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

Volunteers work through a downpour of rain Sunday, May 1, 2011 to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

Volunteers move furniture by boat from a flooded home along Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch, Ill. Sunday, May 1, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Floodwaters in Olive Branch, Ill. continue to rise as it pours rain Sunday, May 1, 2011. Volunteers have been working to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

Volunteers work through a downpour of rain Sunday, May 1, 2011 to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

Volunteers work through a downpour of rain Sunday, May 1, 2011 to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

Bobby White, left, Dustin Sentz, center, and Michael Whalen refuel their tanks with homemade food at the Community Center in Olive Branch, Ill. Sunday, May 1, 2011. The three men have been volunteering their time to help sandbag around the community. (Laura Simon)

The Community Center in Olive Branch, Ill. provides shelter and replenishments to families affected by flooding and volunteers working in the floodwaters. (Laura Simon)

The Ramsey family delivers food items to the community center in Olive Branch from Harvest Church in Anna, Ill. Sunday, May 1, 2011. (Laura Simon)

A volunteer stands on a levee of sandbags that surround a home in olive Branch, Ill. Sunday, May 1, 2011. Volunteers are building a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

Cheryl Miller directs Jeff Petzoldt on where to set supplies inside the community center in Olive Branch, Ill. Sunday, May 1, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Jane Adams, right, consoles Robin Bruer inside the community center in Olive Branch, Ill. Sunday, May 1, 2011. Bruer, among others, has been cooking homemade food for citizens and volunteers as they fight the floodwater. (Laura Simon)

Floodwaters in Olive Branch, Ill. continue to rise as it pours rain Sunday, May 1, 2011. Volunteers have been working to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

Volunteers work through a downpour of rain Sunday, May 1, 2011 to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

Floodwaters in Olive Branch, Ill. continue to rise as it pours rain Sunday, May 1, 2011. Volunteers have been working to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

Heavy rain contributes to the floodwater that surrounds Illinois Route 3 Sunday, May 1, 2011 in Olive Branch, Ill. (Laura Simon)

The Community Center in Olive Branch, Ill. provides shelter and replenishments to families affected by flooding and volunteers working in the floodwaters. (Laura Simon)

Volunteers move furniture by boat from a flooded home along Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch, Ill. Sunday, May 1, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Floodwaters in Olive Branch, Ill. continue to rise as it pours rain Sunday, May 1, 2011. Volunteers have been working to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

Floodwaters in Olive Branch, Ill. continue to rise as it pours rain Sunday, May 1, 2011. Volunteers have been working to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

Rebecca Hull, left, and Patty Osorio huddle under a make-shift tent as a downpour of rain falls in Thebes, Ill. Sunday, May 1, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Starla Sissom, husband Jason, and son Jimmy take a break from sandbagging in the pouring rain to refuel at the community center in Olive Branch, Ill. Sunday, May 1, 2011. Starla said, "We're on set of clothes number three today!" (Laura Simon)

Sherry Miller speaks with Nick Kinder inside the community center in Olive Branch, Ill. Sunday, May 1, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Volunteers work through a downpour of rain Sunday, May 1, 2011 to build a foot tall sand levee on Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch where the floodwater is only six inches from the road. (Laura Simon)

The river front in Thebes, Ill. lays hidden under floodwater from the Mississippi Sunday, May 1, 2011. (Laura Simon)

A view from the Thebes Courthouse shows floodwater covering the river front Sunday, May 1, 2011. (Laura Simon)

A cross made from horse shoes looms over a home surrounded by sandbags Sunday, May 1, 2011 in Olive Branch, Ill. (Laura Simon)