Corps Searching For Ways To Avert Flooding Repeat

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it is trying to find more room in its reservoirs to avoid a repeat of this summer's flooding that caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to states along the Missouri River.

Corps Brig. Gen. John McMahon said Thursday that his agency has so far tallied $630 million worth of flood damage to the levees, dams and channels built to control the river.

He told governors or representatives of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas that the agency is looking for more storage room for floodwater for 2012.

Some of the governors have been asking for more aggressive flood control.

McMahon says a report due next week is also likely to have specific recommendations.