A Continuing Thread ~ Post Your Tokens, Medals, Exonumia Acquisitions

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From April 12 to April 19, 1965, the Mississippi River rose seven feet in seven days, going from flood stage, 13 feet, to a record 20.77 feet, higher than much of the city. The flood waters never reached Fifth and Sioux streets, but it easily could have. If the city's defenses — hastily erected dikes, furiously churning pumps, and plugs in the sewer system placed by a daring diver — had failed, most of Winona would have been underwater. Flooding predictions did not become truly dire — or accurate — until April 9, 10 days before the crest.
Suddenly, the entire city soon found itself in a fight against widespread devastation. A fight it nearly lost. Contractors, truck drivers, and laborers worked around the clock to haul sand and earth to build miles of emergency dikes. Businesses sent their workers to lay sandbags in the race to raise the dikes ahead of the rising river. Schools closed and sent students to fill sandbags. Seemingly everyone served on dike patrols that continuously scanned for leaks. People from surrounding communities and motorcyclists from across the region came came to help. Amateur radio volunteers served a crucial role, providing the link for relaying messages between Civil Defense commanders at city hall and crews on the dikes. Older citizens made sandwiches for the sandbaggers. Everyone did what they could and prayed the dikes would hold.