The river is projected to drop below flood stage in five days

If the projection holds true, the Mississippi River at Vicksburg will drop below flood stage sometime on Monday, July 29th. That day will mark the 163rd consecutive day the river was above flood stage, the longest period since the Great Flood of 1927.

The levels in the Backwater area are also dropping quickly. There are no projections when the area will have drained to its pre-flood levels.

River stage projection as of July 24, 2019.

The impact of the Backwater flood has been historic. Over 550,000 acres were underwater at one point. Thousands have been displaced, several farmers have not been able to plant this year and wildlife has been decimated. The roadways have been littered with carcasses while predator and prey have been forced into the same small patches of land.

It will take several years for the impact of this flood to be lessened.

Gov. Phil Bryant issued a request to President Trump to have the South Delta declared a disaster area.

Last night, a meeting on the flood held at the Warren County Courthouse attracted one of the largest crowds to have assembled there in recent memory. Dozens of people turned away because there was nowhere left to sit, and the standing areas were full as well.