Mississippi River Floods 2011: Deep South Braces For Surge Of Water Not Seen Since 1927

[Generic Other]

NEW ORLEANS -- A surge of water not seen since the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 is forecast in coming days to test the enormous levees lining the Mississippi River on its course through the Deep South, adding another element of danger to a region already raked by deadly tornadoes and thunderstorms.

Mississippi's and Louisiana's governors issued flood warnings Thursday and declared states of emergency. Authorities along the swollen waterway in both states are warning nearby residents to brace for the possibility of any flooding. River boat casinos in Mississippi are closing and levee managers are readying sand bags and supplies – and the manpower to build the defenses – to fight the rising river along hundreds of levees in both states where the river crosses en route to the Gulf of Mexico.

<snip>

River flooding, fed by heavy rains across the Mississippi River valley, is already a serious problem hundreds of miles upriver, particularly in Missouri where the Army Corps of Engineers is considering whether to blow up a levee to relieve pressure on Cairo, Ill, a bottleneck where the Ohio and Mississippi rivers meet.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/28/mississippi-river-flood-2011_n_855242.html?ncid=wsc-huffpost-cards-headline

******

What a pounding this area is taking. Will the levees hold? I vaguely recall The Army Corps stuffing them with newspaper during Katrina.

[Aerows]

1. It was known

since the 50's in New Orleans - common knowledge - that the levees wouldn't hold in the event of a major hurricane entering the mouth of the Mississippi river. I live on the Mississippi side, right on the coast, and frankly, I'm not overly optimistic for EITHER Louisiana or Mississippi. We'll see.

[pitohui]

7. there has been considerable technology since the 1950s

mississippi is going to have some issues but i see no point in scare mongering just yet

i see no reason to believe that the new orleans levees are threatened at this point

[Aerows]

10. I don't see how stating the truth

is scaremongering. Did the levees hold in New Orleans during Katrina? That's all that I stated - it was known that they wouldn't and it isn't much of a surprise that they didn't.

[AC_Mem]

13. Memphis here

We are already closing streets around here because they are flooded. We are going to have to deal with this until May 10 from what our news is telling us.

We are being told to make plans to get OUT when given notice, to make arrangements for our pets, to have bags packed for each family member and to make sure we have our identification and to check to make sure we have flood insurance.

This is real and its happening. There will be alot of people who's homes will be destroyed by water, mud and mold. Plant life, crops - there is going to be alot of damage I'm afraid.

Annette

[sufrommich]

14. Very scary. Where will that many people go if they have to

get out?

[AC_Mem]

15. One of the two centers

for the flooding (a large church) is already at capacity. They just opened another center.

I looked on the flood map for my zip code just being curious and MY STREET is alerted as a flood street!! dammit. No other street in several blocks is listed, just my street. I live across the street from a lake...

I am going to have to make alot of calls in the morning to find out what I need to do to prepare. I live on the bottom floor of an apartment complex. Not sure if I should get sandbags or what.

Very nervous,
Annette

[Aerows]

16. All we can do is hope

and pray to our higher power if we believe in one, and help our friends and neighbors.

[MineralMan]

2. We had high water here in Minnesota in April on the Mississippi,

It went above flood stage, and caused some flooding. All of that water goes straight down the river to the mouth of the Mississippi. It's just adding to the problem. I'm very worried for the southern half of the river and the surrounding areas.

[juajen]

3. Golly, gee, we sure don't need this. Is there a definitive site

I can go to in order to check potential bayou flooding in Lafayette from the swollen Mississippi?

[MineralMan]

4. Start at this link, then

use the links there to drill down to specific locations:

http://water.weather.gov/ahps/

[Poboy]

6. So far, so good for New Orleans. Baton Rouge looks touchy-

From the link-

FLOOD STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS BATON ROUGE LA
Flood Warning

000
WGUS84 KLIX 010218
FLSLIX
FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS BATON ROUGE LA
918 PM CDT SAT APR 30 2011

...THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING RIVERS IN
LOUISIANA...

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT RED RIVER LANDING AFFECTING EAST BATON
ROUGE...POINTE COUPEE AND WEST FELICIANA PARISHES

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT BATON ROUGE AFFECTING EAST BATON ROUGE
AND WEST BATON ROUGE PARISHES

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT DONALDSONVILLE AFFECTING ASCENSION PARISH

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FORECAST CRESTS ARE BASED UPON RAINFALL THAT HAS OCCURRED ALONG WITH
ANTICIPATED RAIN FOR THE NEXT 12 HOURS. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FORECASTS
WILL BE MADE IF ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURS.

DO NOT DRIVE CARS THROUGH FLOODED AREAS. REMEMBER...TWO FEET OF
RUSHING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY MOST VEHICLES INCLUDING PICKUPS. TURN
AROUND AND DON`T DROWN.

A FOLLOWUP PRODUCT WILL BE ISSUED LATER. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO...LOCAL TV AND RADIO STATIONS...OR YOUR CABLE PROVIDER...FOR
THE LATEST INFORMATION. THE LATEST GRAPHICAL HYDROLOGIC INFORMATION
CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT WEATHER.GOV.

&&

LAC033-077-125-012018-
/O.CON.KLIX.FL.W.0039.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
/RRLL1.2.ER.000000T0000Z.110521T1200Z.000000T0000Z.NR/
918 PM CDT SAT APR 30 2011

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT RED RIVER LANDING.
* UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...OR UNTIL THE WARNING IS CANCELLED.
* AT 8:00 PM SATURDAY THE STAGE WAS 50.0 FEET.
* MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MODERATE FLOODING IS FORECAST.
* THE FLOOD STAGE IS 48.0 FEET.
* FORECAST...THE RIVER IS EXPECTED TO RISE TO NEAR 54.0 FEET BY THURSDAY
MAY 5TH AND CONTINUE RISING TO A CREST NEAR 62.0 FEET BY SATURDAY MORNING
MAY 21ST.
* IMPACT...AT 51.0 FEET...ALL RIVER ISLANDS ALONG THE REACH FROM RED
RIVER LANDING TO BATON ROUGE WILL BE INUNDATED. RECREATIONAL CAMPS
AND RIVER BOTTOM FARM LAND WILL BE UNDER WATER.
* IMPACT...AT 62.0 FEET...THE INNER LEVEE...THE LAST PROTECTION OF THE
PRISON AT ANGOLA...WILL BE THREATENED. EVACUATION OF THE PRISON IS
RECOMMENDED. ANGOLA LANDING WILL REMAIN UNDER WATER CLOSING THE
FERRY THERE. ALL RIVER ISLANDS ALONG THE REACH FROM RED RIVER
LANDING TO BATON ROUGE WILL REMAIN INUNDATED WITH RECREATIONAL
CAMPS AND RIVER BOTTOM FARM LAND UNDER WATER.

$$

LAC033-121-012017-
/O.CON.KLIX.FL.W.0040.110504T0600Z-000000T0000Z/
/BTRL1.3.ER.110504T0600Z.110522T0000Z.000000T0000Z.NO/
918 PM CDT SAT APR 30 2011

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT BATON ROUGE.
* FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...OR UNTIL THE WARNING
IS CANCELLED.
* AT 8:00 PM SATURDAY THE STAGE WAS 32.8 FEET.
* MAJOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.
* THE FLOOD STAGE IS 35.0 FEET.
* FORECAST...THE RIVER IS EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE BY TUESDAY
MAY 3RD AND CONTINUE RISING TO A CREST OF 44.5 FEET BY SATURDAY EVENING
MAY 21ST.
* IMPACT...AT 35.0 FEET...RIVER ISLANDS FROM RED RIVER LANDING DOWNSTREAM
TO BATON ROUGE WILL BE INUNDATED.
* IMPACT...AT 43.0 FEET...SHIPPING AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES ARE
SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED. UNPROTECTED LOW-LYING AREAS WILL BE FLOODED
AND AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS WILL BE IMPACTED ON THE WEST SIDE OF
THE RIVER. THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IS PROTECTED BY LEVEES AT THIS
LEVEL.

$$

LAC005-012017-
/O.CON.KLIX.FL.W.0041.110508T0142Z-000000T0000Z/
/DONL1.2.ER.110508T0142Z.110522T0000Z.000000T0000Z.NO/
918 PM CDT SAT APR 30 2011

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT DONALDSONVILLE.
* FROM SATURDAY MAY 07 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...OR UNTIL THE WARNING IS
CANCELLED.
* AT 8:00 PM SATURDAY THE STAGE WAS 23.1 FEET.
* MODERATE FLOODING IS FORECAST.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 27.0 FEET.
* FORECAST...THE RIVER IS EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE BY FRIDAY
MAY 6TH AND CONTINUE RISING TO A CREST NEAR 33.5 FEET BY SATURDAY EVENING
MAY 21ST.
* IMPACT...AT 27.0 FEET...NAVIGATION BECOMES DIFFICULT FOR SMALLER RIVER CRAFT.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR RIVER TRAFFIC ARE URGED.
* IMPACT...AT 34.0 FEET...RIVER BARGE TRAFFIC BECOMES DANGEROUS,
PARTICULARLY WHEN NAVIGATING SHARP TURNS ON THIS STRETCH OF THE
RIVER.

$$

98/SO
====

http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lix

[MineralMan]

9. Good luck to you. I'll be thinking about you folks down there.

[Poboy]

12. Thank you. More info-

Bonnet Carre Spillway likely to open, State Of Emergency declared

Paul Murphy / Eyewitness News

BATONR ROUGE, LA - The Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to open the Bonnet Carre spillway upriver, to take some of the pressure off of metro area levees.

Governor Bobby Jindal has declared a state of emergency due to the threat of flooding along the Mississippi.

The river is expected to crest at about flood stage in New Orleans in the coming weeks.

Authorities also stepped up surveillance of local levees as the water is already above flood stage in some spots north of the city.

"This is going to be a slow moving crest and we're likely to see elevated river levels for at least a few days," said Jindal.

Flood stage in New Orleans is 17 feet, but the levees and floodwalls can protect the city up to 20 feet..
Thursday, the level at the Carrollton gauge reached about 12 and a half feet.

Video report at link-

http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/Bonnet-Carre-Spillway-Likely-To-Open-State-Of-Emergency-Declared-120910359.html

[pitohui]

5. flood projected to reach new orleans on may 22 and be three feet below the levees

i haven't heard anything about lafayette but i would expect only localized flooding? the big problems are in mississippi and states to the north that are ill-prepared for flooding compared to louisiana, where we are aware of the dangers

this from the jeff masters weatherunderground blog:

The timing of the floods crests will depend upon a complex mix a factors, including how much rain falls over the next month, the possible influence of southerly winds holding up the floodwater pulses, the potential opening of flood control structures and reduction of flows from flood control reservoirs, and potential levee failures. The Mississippi River is expected to crest at 17 feet at New Orleans on May 22, three feet below the top of the levees. This would likely require opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway 28 miles upstream from New Orleans, to relieve pressure on the city's levees. Opening the spillway drains 250,000 cubic feet per second of flow into Lake Pontchartrain.

local news/weather might be the way to go for flood information if there is not an advisory from the nat'l weather service

i am not too concerned right now about this area but the water sure looks high, don't it?

[Poboy]

8. 3 feet below the top in N.O? Being 4 blocks from the levee, not good.

[bvar22]

11. The Mississippi River levees held strong during Katrina.

So did the Lake Pontchartrain "Levees".
The interior "floodwalls" failed on 17th Street and the 9th Ward,
and the GO outlet canal was topped in New Orleans East,
but the Mississippi River levees were fine.

That is NOT to say that they WILL be fine.
The current situation (flooding from the north) is entirely different from a Hurricane Storm Surge coming out of the Gulf of Mexico.