Can Social Media Rescue Iowa Levee?

July 21, 2012 at 5:38 am PT

HAMBURG, Iowa — When floodwaters threatened this farming community last year, the federal government spent a little more than $4 million to shore up its levee, saving many local businesses.

Now, the town of about 1,100 must come up with as much as $5.6 million to inspect and repair the levee and keep those businesses from suffering—and maybe being forced to flee.

So residents took to the Internet to ask for donations, designing a folksy website including a video of citizens dancing on Main Street to the classic rock song “Proud Mary.”

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