Within days, Elkport, Iowa will be wiped off the map.

The northeast Iowa town on the Volga and Turkey rivers was flooded when a dike broke in May 2004. Within hours, homes were under as much as 15 feet of water, prompting a disaster declaration by President Bush.

Mayor Roger Bolsinger says the only thing they could do was get people out of town. Elkport has been deserted ever since.

FEMA approved a buyout in January 2005.

Preliminary work stared this week to demolish the town. And next week, demolition crews and bulldozers will seal Elkport's fate for good.

The only planned survivors are the community center and baseball diamond. Residents see them as hubs for community events and centerpieces of a hoped-for campground built after homes are razed.