VICKSBURG – Within the last few years, Mississippi has been hit with devastating hurricanes, torrential rains and a historic number of deadly tornados. Now they can add flooding to the list of natural disasters that continue to plague the state. As the rising waters of the Mississippi River force thousands from their homes – from the North to the South – local and government officials are scrambling to prevent what could amount to a catastrophic disaster.
The Mississippi River, the third longest river in North America, flows 2,350 miles from its source at Lake Itasca through the center of the continental United States, to the Gulf of Mexico. And now excessive rainfall has caused the river to reach dangerously high levels that will likely surpass the historic records set during the Great Floods of 1927 and 1937.
As the high waters moved south, the Mississippi River near Greenville reportedly surged past its major flood stage of 57 feet on Friday and it was expected to reach and surpass its major flood stage of 50 feet in Vicksburg by Saturday.
State engineers look for the river to reach a major flood stage by Tuesday, May 10 and crews are constantly working to secure the state’s levee system.
All along the River’s path, homes stand under water – ruined – as some residents packed what they could and left on shuttles that carried them safely to shelters. And to add to the misery, hundreds of businesses and shops are now closed leaving many wondering when and if they’ll ever return to work.
Flood waters have also forced the closure of numerous casinos across the state including nine in Tunica, one in Coahoma County, three in Greenville, one in Natchez and four in Vicksburg, putting thousands of casino employees out of work.
State officials said they expect some flooding in every county on the river and they anticipate at least 900,000 acres of crop land could be flooded putting losses in excess of $100 million, as well as substantial damage to the catfish industry.
On Monday, May 9, Congressman Bennie Thompson said he will survey the areas impacted by the flood via helicopter with United States Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg Commander Colonel Jeffrey Eckstein. The tour will begin in Vicksburg and proceed north to Tunica County. During the tour, the Congressman will make a stop in Greenville and host a briefing for local officials with federal, state, and non-government entities.
In answer to the devastation, President Barack Obama has already signed a disaster declaration, at Gov. Haley Barbour’s request, for 11 Mississippi counties including Adams, Bolivar, Claiborne, Coahoma, Desoto, Issaquena, Jefferson, Tunica, Warren, Washington and Wilkinson.
Other counties may be added as appropriate.
“The Mississippi River will reach historic levels over the next few weeks,” Gov. Barbour said prior to the president’s approval. “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.”
Reportedly, there have already been substantial evacuations in the designated disaster counties with more than 1,500 in the Vicksburg-Warren County area alone. Humphreys and Yazoo County have also reported evacuations.
With this declaration, the governor is requesting aid through the Public Assistance, Individual Assistance including the Individuals and Households Program, Crisis Counseling, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, USDA food coupons and distribution, USDA food commodities, Disaster Legal Services, the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Small Business Administration disaster loans.
This will also allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate all disaster relief efforts in Mississippi.
“This will be a monumental flood, and I ask residents to take this risk seriously and make evacuation plans,” Gov. Barbour said. “I appreciate the quick review by President Obama and FEMA leaders, and I know they will give similar consideration to our request to add counties impacted by backwater flooding.”
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