Saturation had made the dikes top heavy and even more unstable as water levels subsided. Almost all the embankments were holding as last week ended, but a red alert persisted.

FIFTY YEARS AFTER WORLD WAR II, SOMETHING LIKE BLITZKRIEG returned to Nijmegen last week. Dutch soldiers swarmed around the city while low-flying helicopters thundered overhead. Sirens pierced the air as police cars escorted emergency crews and equipment into town. The scenes reflected the kind of combat the Dutch know best:…