Columbus homeowners keeping a close eye on the Loup River as ice builds up

*** In the original story the aerial video was attributed to the wrong agency. The aerial video was actually supplied by the Nebraska Dept. of Natural Resources***

COLUMBUS, Ne (FOX42KPTM) - Ice is building up at a river in Columbus, Nebraska at an alarming rate. Now, homeowners are left to wonder what will happen next.

"I came to check this place out," said Mike Voss, a Columbus native referring to the Loup River.

Voss did not like what he saw Thursday.

"If we get a warm front, I've got friends with property on the river that I'm kind of worried about right now."

He says the cold weather combined with a lot of snow is the perfect storm for an ice jam. Emergency officials estimate it's about six miles long. Voss says this situation is among the worst he's ever seen.

"I've never seen the river like this."

Aerial video from the Department of Natural Resources shows just how big of a deal the ice jam really is in Columbus. The concern now is what will happen when all of that ice melts.

"If it gets hot really quick and dries up it can overflow the banks," said Voss.

"We had to put a wall in for our own safety and, honestly, I'm glad we did," said Dennis Kudron, a Columbus native.

Kudron's neighborhood near the Loup River is protected by a floodgate. He says if an ice jam gives way to flooding, the floodgate will give his community an extra four or five foot cushion.

"We just want to prevent the next major problem we're looking at down the road," said Kudron.

He says if things really get bad mountains of sand are ready to go at the Platte County-Polk County line.

"We've got three large piles here."

Kudron says that's making him feel safer.

"More than we'll ever need."

For now, it's a waiting game in Columbus. Emergency officials say they're hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

Weather experts say ice jams are especially dangerous because they prevent flowing water from having a place to go. Eventually, that water will end up in places it shouldn't.