1.   At Bedeford, north Devon, people were evacuated from their homes as a dam holding back flood water overflowed.

2.   But the dam held.

3.   The dam holds back water that could flood much of the capitol city of California.

4.   Flood evacuees poured back into their precarious home region Sunday, grateful their centuries-old dams held and relieved to see their houses above water.

5.   Flood refugees poured back into their precarious polder life Sunday, grateful their centuries-old dams held and glad to see their homes above water.