very imminent danger within minutes if the levee was to break, will you have very, very short time to get out of the way. reporter: on monday, 1,000 people were evacuated from this area in poplar bluff. for now, the water is escaping and flooding a lightly populated rural area south of town. witnesses say the water is rising slowly but steadily where the levee breached. this dog left in a yard was rescued by the local sheriff. that levee breach and not going to have time not running. it s too late then. so you want to get out ahead of time. reporter: so many residents near the river are not taking chances and rushing to higher ground. it s stressful, you know. you pay for a home to stay and then you re out of your home. your things, your comfort zone