Forty recently sworn-in AmeriCorps FEMA volunteers traveled to Eagle Lake Wednesday afternoon to help members of the Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department and community residents fill sandbags to prevent a flooding problem on Mississippi 465.

The bags were needed to build a dam around a drainage culvert that was allowing flood waters to seep through, threatening homes on the west side of the road and the lake. The culvert had been blocked to prevent floodwaters from crossing under the road, but recent heavy rains caused the waters to break through the obstruction.

The plan was to build the dam high enough to block the floodwater so the water inside the dam and on the west side of the road can be pumped out.

The AmeriCorps volunteers were sent to help at the request of Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace.

Pace said he received an urgent call from L.W. “Bump” Callaway, a former Warren County Emergency Management director, asking for help with building the dam.

“I called AmeriCorps, which has the Southern Region Training Center in Vicksburg, and was able to get 40 volunteers to come to Eagle Lake,” he said. “Emergency Management director John Elfer called the county road department and was able to get several dump trucks of sand brought to the volunteer fire department, and got about 1,000 sand bags.”

AmeriCorps spokeswoman Tayah Nelson said the volunteers were from across the country, adding the group was glad to come and assist.

Lloyd Lewins with AmeriCorps said the organization was always ready to help the community.

“If anyone has a project or program that needs help, they can call us and we will try and do what we can to help them,” he said.

Eagle Lake Fire Chief Earl Wallace said the plan was to build the dam to be able to handle a level of 96 feet, which is expected to be the level on the landside of Steele Bayou after predicted rains this weekend.

“We’re trying to save 8 to 10 homes and the lake,” he said. “If that water gets into the lake, it could damage some piers.”

Wallace said he was glad to see the AmeriCorps volunteers helping with the job.

“I’m so proud to see that many young people working,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of people working on this. We have a pump donated from the Corps (of Engineers), and tractor owned by Michael Strickland is being used to run it. The people pull together in this little community more than any other place I’ve seen.”