The Army Corps of Engineers in Omaha says it has awarded a $12 million contract to repair a Missouri River levee near Hamburg, Iowa, that broke during catastrophic flooding in March, reports the Des Moines Register. The Corps says that the breach repair should provide temporary flood protection of critical infrastructure, and that it has begun planning permanent levee repairs. Since this year’s floods, Hamburg residents have criticized the Corps for previously forcing the town to reduce emergency levee protection added in 2011, saying the extra 8 to 9 feet could have protected the town this year. Flood damage in all of western Iowa is likely to top the state’s initial estimate of $1.6 billion, Gov. Kim Reynolds said last week.