a town engineer points toward the tall earthen wall that runs along the swollen river. Rain pours down as dark storm clouds gather overhead above the rushing water. The river level rises dangerously high but the raised embankment holds the water back from reaching the houses. Without this barrier, the flooding river would spill over into the residential area behind it. Townspeople stand safely on the protected side, watching the contained floodwaters. Some residents look relieved as they observe how the structure keeps their homes dry. an embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river