Vicksburg city leaders and an array of emergency management officials gathered Monday to provide an update on expected flooding and urge citizens to be prepared.
Mississippi River levels continue to rise, potentially reaching as high as 48.5 feet by April 20. The flood stage for Vicksburg is set at 43 feet, with levels already approaching that mark. The most recent major flood occurred in 2011 at just over 57 feet.
“Together, we’ve been working diligently to assess the risks, activate flood fighting efforts, and ensure the protection of the properties and infrastructure – and most importantly the people,” Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs said Monday.
Flaggs noted that a multi-agency collaboration has been executing a flood mitigation plan for weeks. Those agencies include the Warren County Emergency Management Agency, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Flood walls and barricades have been placed at strategic points along the river banks, while a number of levy gates have been closed to minimize impact on the community.
“While Vicksburg is no stranger to rising water on the Mississippi River, we continue to treat each event with urgency and commitment to protecting our community,” Flaggs continued. “We encourage all our residents to stay informed throughout this challenge, following the guidance of emergency management, and obey any signs of barricade for your safety.”
Colonel Jeremiah Gipson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commander of the Mississippi Valley Division, pointed to the ongoing assistance that the federal agency is providing. Army engineers are specifically providing water level forecasts and measurements multiple times a day.
John Elfer, executive director of the Warren County Emergency Management Agency, says as many as 20 roads in the city could be closed due to flooding.
“There’s no reason for anybody to get injured or certainly killed with the river flood,” Elfer said. “We know when it’s coming, and we about know when it’s going to leave.”
Preparation for the flooding also includes coordination with levy boards in multiple states on the banks of the Mississippi River, particularly Arkansas and Louisiana.
MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney added that residents who were not around for the most recent flooding need to be educated by their neighbors on flood preparedness. McCraney encouraged all residents to take note of past problem areas, where roads could be closed, and have a plan if they are affected.
“This is a long-term, very slow, very purposeful movement of water that’s going to flood some areas,” McCraney said.
McCraney said that flood levels are expected to continue rising until April 20 and are projected to begin subsiding on April 30.
To stay up to date on flood information, forecasts, and other resources, visit the Warren County Management Agency Facebook page, the city of Vicksburg’s website, or MEMA’s website.
