The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reducing its flood watching efforts in all areas of the Mississippi River. This is thanks to the receding river, which has swollen in many areas due to heavy rains in December. Another factor that helps is the lack of any measurable rainfall that is forecast over the next several days. Below is a news release from the Army Corps of Engineers:
With river stages falling in all locations, the Memphis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has lowered its floodfighting response activation level to Phase I in all active areas.
These locations include the Cairo Area in Illinois, the Missouri Area in Missouri, the Reelfoot-Obion and Memphis Areas in Tennessee, the Clarksdale Area in Mississippi, and the White River, West Memphis and Helena Areas in Arkansas. Floodfighting efforts in the Upper and Lower St. Francis Areas in Missouri ended last week.
As a result of this reduction in activation level the number of field personnel previously deployed has been reduced. Monitoring of flood risk reduction works including levees, flood walls and pumping stations continues in the still active Areas.
Although no significant precipitation is forecast to fall in this area in the immediate future, USACE emergency operations personnel continue to monitor the situation and stay in touch with National Weather Service forecasters as we approach the traditional spring high water season.
