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WINFIELD, Mo.—A week after the Mississippi River broke through the Pin Oak levee and began inundating this northeast Missouri town, signs that the worst is over were everywhere.

Except in a few spots, the Mississippi no longer overtops the remnants of the levee, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Saturday based on a tour of the town.

At Cap Au Gris, the floodwaters eddied into the Mississippi with the sound of a fast-moving stream.

Winfield-Foley Fire Department Lt. Cory Swafford said he sees improvements every day.

“By the way the water is going down, it looks like it’s going to be pretty quick,” Swafford said.

Touring the water-ravaged town showed the massive amount of work to be done.

Near the river banks, power lines dipped perilously close to the water. Homes near the river, even those on stilts, appeared to have suffered major damage.

Various debris, including plastic bottles, a soccer ball and a half-sunken motorboat, floated everywhere.

In some places, the water is still almost 8 feet deep.

Carver looked at the devastation and considered the outcome had burrowing animals not undermined the Pin Oak levee, as many believe.

“You can’t help but wonder what would have happened if it wasn’t for that muskrat hole,” he said. “But there’s more honor in striking out swinging than letting the ball go by. Hopefully, we’ll remember the fight better than we’ll remember the loss.”

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com