Upcoming Mississippi Floods

F

Fun Patrol

New member
Most people don't know about the Old River Control Structure. If it fails New Orleans will become a mud flat. The flood this spring could take it out. Click on the link at the bottom for a long but well written article on the Old River.

...flood waters pouring in from the Arkansas River, Yazoo River, and other tributaries are expected to swell the Mississippi high enough to beat the all-time record at Vicksburg, Mississippi by 1.3’ on May 20, and smash the all-time record at Natchez, Mississippi by six feet on May 22, and by 3.2 feet at Red River Landing on May 23. Red River Landing is the site of the Old River Control Structure, the Army Corps’ massive engineering structure that keeps the Mississippi River from carving a new path to the Gulf of Mexico. ... Its failure would be a serious blow to the U.S. economy, and the great Mississippi flood of 2011 will give the Old River Control Structure its most severe test ever. Also of concern is the forecast for the Mississippi to crest at 19.5 feet in New Orleans on May 24. The levees in New Orleans protect the city for a flood of 20.0 feet--that is not much breathing room.


http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1987/0 ... ntPage=all

Be careful out there!

Roy....Fun Patrol
 
Thanks for posting this Ron.
I read this years ago and have been thinking about it lately. I may have it in a book somewhere. Thanks for the link.
John McPhee is a great writer, I recomend him to everyone.

Bruce Cassal
 
Bixby's Cub and See Saw are currently anchored in the Mississippi River at mile 70 on our way to New Orleans and it is high and really ripping at over 5mph.

We will be off the river by Thursday, but I may drive back over from Texas on the 20th to see the crest.
 
I would love to see some pictures of Bixby's Cub and See Saw anchored in the Mississippi River at mile 70 on the way to New Orleans. At the present, that must be one heck of a sight.

Please?

Boris
 
Now we are anchored at mile 95 across from the Jax brewery listening to the steam organ on the river sternwheeler "natchez". looks like about 4-5 feet more water will top the levees
 
Back
Top