Mississippi River Flood crest raised again

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The crest projection and date of the Mississippi River flood have once again been extended. The current river stage at Vicksburg as of 9 a.m. this morning is 48.38 ft.

According to the latest projections, the Mississippi River at Vicksburg is expected to crest at 49 feet on April 28. In an email, Peter Nimrod, Chief Engineer with the Mississippi Levee Board reports, “We are not having any issues or problems on the protected side (landside) of the levee with this highwater event. However, there will be lots of impacts to roadways on the unprotected (riverside) of the levee.”

Continued rainfall in the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys have contributed to the extended crest height and date extension.

Hwy. 465 is closed, on the riverside of the levee, from Hwy. 61 to the Yazoo Backwater Levee headed to Eagle Lake. To access Eagle Lake, residents can ride the Yazoo Backwater Levee from Hwy. 61 back to Hwy 465. No heavy trucks will be allowed.

The Steele Bayou Structure Gates are closed, and the Backwater Levee is currently at 89.5’ (up 0.02’ in past 24 hours). The Corps predicts the Backwater Levee will crest around 90.5’ to 91’ before the gates can re-open. At 90’ 156,000 acres are underwater in the South Delta. The Corps predicts the gates will re-open around May 5^th.

Flood Impacts

• At 38.8 feet the Vicksburg Flood wall gate at Crawford Street is closed.
• At 39.5 Long Lake Road to Eagle Lake Road becomes impassable about 1 mile north of the Long Lake Community.
• At 40.5 Shady Lane Drive becomes impassable. Long Lake Road becomes impassable just north of Cypress Drive.
• At 41 the storm water drain valves are closed at the flood gates along the Vicksburg Water Front.
• At 41.2 Long Lake Road is under water starting where the low road to the island takes off south. Access to Long Lake Community requires a boat.
• At 41.5 water reaches the slab of the first structure in the Chickasaw Bayou Subdivision.
• At 42 the Bunge Grain facility near St. Joseph, Louisiana ceases loading operations.
• At 43 Jackson Lane in North Vicksburg begins to flood.
• At 43.5 the Long Lake Subdivision is completely flooded. Vicksburg Floodwall gates at train depot and the lumber yard gate 8 are closed.
• At 44 the Ford and Kings Subdivision at Pittman Road and Mary’s Alley begin to flood.
• At 44.6 residence on Williams Street in Vicksburg begins to flood.
• At 45 Ford and Kings Subdivision at Williams Street begin to flood.
• At 45.2 Vicksburg Floodwall Gate at South Street is closed.
• At 46 the water level reaches the grain bins at the Bunge Grain facility.
• At 46.5 portions of Highway 465, Eagle Lake Road and several houses are underwater. Portions of Letourneau Road in South Vicksburg are flooded.
• At 46.8 LeTourneau Technologies experiences flooding problems. Vicksburg Floodwall gate number 7 at the lumber yard is closed.
• At 47.8 the Vicksburg Floodwall Gate at Clay Street is closed.
• At 48 culverts in South Vicksburg west of Highway 61 South are full. Low lying businesses near the railroad begin to take on water.
• At 49 the river reaches Hall Road at Cedars Road and the edge of Cedars School Circle on the west side in Vicksburg. Vicksburg Floodwall gate at China Street is closed.
• At 49.5, in Vicksburg, the west side of Thompson Lake Road up to the railroad is inundated.
• At 50 the water reaches the south end of Hutson Street. Hall Road at Cedars Road is closed and several businesses on Highway 61 South are flooded in the Vicksburg area.

The record flood stage for Vicksburg is 57.1 feet, reached on May 19, 2011.