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Music It's the afternoon of April 24, 1927, in Arkansas City, Arkansas.

Nine-year-old John Harold Johnson runs for his life, his feet slipping on wet mud as he races

down a primitive road. He glances back to his mother, his feet slipping on wet mud as he races down a primitive road.

He glances back to his mother, who's breathing heavily as she follows, but she waves at John

to keep going. Over the past few months, the United States has suffered from prolonged and heavy

rainfall, and the Mississippi River that runs close to John's home has risen far higher than normal.

A few minutes ago, the river burst its banks and water flooded through the streets of Arkansas

City. Now, John and his mother are scrambling toward the highest ground nearby, a 20-foot-tall

levee that's now the last line of defense against the rising water. John turns again to check

on his mother, but his foot slips on a wet rock, and he tumbles to the ground. His mother grabs his

arm and hauls him to his feet, urging him on. But as John gets up, he sees another wave of water

rushing along the lane behind them.

John and his mother set off running again, and he soon spots the raised levee.

Dozens of people are already sheltering on top, shouting encouragement and urging John to run faster.

But as John reaches the bottom of the levee, a wave knocks him to his knees.

John struggles to his feet and tries to climb the levee slope, but it's too slippery. He keeps sliding back into the rising water,

panicking as he tries to find something to grip onto. John is close to sinking beneath the flood

waters when he feels a hand grab his wrist. At first, John can't believe his eyes.

...