Following an historic and deadly tornado outbreak over the last week across the state, Mississippi cities and towns along the Mississippi River are gearing up for what will be an historic flood event over the next few weeks.
National Weather Service issued Flood Warnings continue along the entire length of the Mississippi River until further notice from Memphis, Tennessee south to Natchez with forecast projections of the river rising to their highest levels ever recorded, likely surpassing the Great Flood of 1927.
The Great Flood of 1927 killed 600 people and wiped out many towns and farms near the river.
Moderate flooding was already occurring all along the Mississippi River with the river expected to rise into major flood territory by Friday.
Just south of Memphis, where the river is expected to crest at 48 feet on May 10th, DeSoto County supervisors on Monday approved emergency declarations sought by local Emergency Management and road officials.
All nine casinos in Tunica County have already been shut down indefinitely, where about 600 residents have also been evacuated from flood-prone areas on the inside of the levee, said Tunica County spokesman Larry Liddell, as the river continues to inch dangerously close to their properties.
An armed S.W.A.T team was brought in to assist in moving millions of dollars from the Horseshoe Casino along with money, computers, gambling items and perishable food.
Transportation officials have shut down Highway 465 in Warren and Issaquena Counties because of the increasing high water.
The state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has suspended all recreational boating activity on lakes along the Mississippi River affected by the flood.
Jeff Rent, the MEMA spokesman, said Mississippi counties along tributaries could also see flooding because the tributaries can't dump water into the Mississippi River when it gets this high.
Backwaters from the rising river have already reached some homes and other structures. It's on the way to others and may all but submerge those in the lowest areas of the impacted Delta counties.
Governor Haley Barbour made a request to President Obama on Tuesday to declare 11 counties along the Mississippi River as disaster areas in anticipation of major flooding, including Adams, Bolivar, Claiborne, Coahoma, Desoto, Issaquena, Jefferson, Tunica, Warren, Washington and Wilkinson.
Governor Haley Barbour Statement
The Mississippi River will reach historic levels over the next few weeks.
Securing a disaster declaration now will allow the federal, state and local governments to coordinate efforts both during and after the flood.
I urge any residents or property owners in the area to take the necessary precautions now and protect their property and their families.
This is in addition to the eleven counties that are already under a disaster declaration from the historic tornado outbreak.
The major flooding is being brought on by excessive amounts of rainfall and flooding across the mid Mississippi River and Ohio River Valleys over the past several weeks.
The Mississippi River flood stage near Greenville is only 48 feet.
The Mississippi River near Greenville is expected to crest by Tuesday, May 17th at 64.5 feet, exceeding the historic flood of 1937 by 1.5 feet, the flood of 1973 by 6.3 feet and the flood of 2008 by 7.1 feet.
The Mississippi River flood stage at Vicksburg is only 43 feet.
The National Weather Service said the river will crest at Vicksburg by Friday, May 20th at 57.5 feet, exceeding the historic flood of 1927 by 1.3 feet, the historic flood of 1937 by 4.3 feet and the flood of 2008 by 6.5 feet.
The Mississippi River flood stage at Natchez is only 48 feet.
Two days later, the Mississippi River at Natchez is expected to hit 65 feet, surpassing the historic flood of 1937 by 7.0 feet, the 2008 flood by 8.0 feet, the 1973 flood by 8.3 feet and the historic flood of 1927 by 8.3 feet.
With the forecast historical crests not expected for another two weeks, any additional rain upstream between now and then could increase river flood continues further.
This is a developing weather situation and everyone living near or around the Mississippi River are strongly advised to monitor the latest Mississippi River flood information as it becomes available.
National Weather Service issued Flood Warnings continue along the entire length of the Mississippi River until further notice from Memphis, Tennessee south to Natchez with forecast projections of the river rising to their highest levels ever recorded, likely surpassing the Great Flood of 1927.
The Great Flood of 1927 killed 600 people and wiped out many towns and farms near the river.
Moderate flooding was already occurring all along the Mississippi River with the river expected to rise into major flood territory by Friday.
Just south of Memphis, where the river is expected to crest at 48 feet on May 10th, DeSoto County supervisors on Monday approved emergency declarations sought by local Emergency Management and road officials.
All nine casinos in Tunica County have already been shut down indefinitely, where about 600 residents have also been evacuated from flood-prone areas on the inside of the levee, said Tunica County spokesman Larry Liddell, as the river continues to inch dangerously close to their properties.
An armed S.W.A.T team was brought in to assist in moving millions of dollars from the Horseshoe Casino along with money, computers, gambling items and perishable food.
Transportation officials have shut down Highway 465 in Warren and Issaquena Counties because of the increasing high water.
The state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has suspended all recreational boating activity on lakes along the Mississippi River affected by the flood.
Jeff Rent, the MEMA spokesman, said Mississippi counties along tributaries could also see flooding because the tributaries can't dump water into the Mississippi River when it gets this high.
Backwaters from the rising river have already reached some homes and other structures. It's on the way to others and may all but submerge those in the lowest areas of the impacted Delta counties.
Governor Haley Barbour made a request to President Obama on Tuesday to declare 11 counties along the Mississippi River as disaster areas in anticipation of major flooding, including Adams, Bolivar, Claiborne, Coahoma, Desoto, Issaquena, Jefferson, Tunica, Warren, Washington and Wilkinson.
Governor Haley Barbour Statement
The Mississippi River will reach historic levels over the next few weeks.
Securing a disaster declaration now will allow the federal, state and local governments to coordinate efforts both during and after the flood.
I urge any residents or property owners in the area to take the necessary precautions now and protect their property and their families.
This is in addition to the eleven counties that are already under a disaster declaration from the historic tornado outbreak.
The major flooding is being brought on by excessive amounts of rainfall and flooding across the mid Mississippi River and Ohio River Valleys over the past several weeks.
The Mississippi River flood stage near Greenville is only 48 feet.
The Mississippi River near Greenville is expected to crest by Tuesday, May 17th at 64.5 feet, exceeding the historic flood of 1937 by 1.5 feet, the flood of 1973 by 6.3 feet and the flood of 2008 by 7.1 feet.
The Mississippi River flood stage at Vicksburg is only 43 feet.
The National Weather Service said the river will crest at Vicksburg by Friday, May 20th at 57.5 feet, exceeding the historic flood of 1927 by 1.3 feet, the historic flood of 1937 by 4.3 feet and the flood of 2008 by 6.5 feet.
The Mississippi River flood stage at Natchez is only 48 feet.
With the forecast historical crests not expected for another two weeks, any additional rain upstream between now and then could increase river flood continues further.
This is a developing weather situation and everyone living near or around the Mississippi River are strongly advised to monitor the latest Mississippi River flood information as it becomes available.
