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US Mississippi River to Crest Near Record Level

   VOA News  May 09, 2011
   Two pickup trucks are seen surrounded by floodwater from the
   Mississippi River outside a garage in Memphis, Tennessee, May 8, 2011

Photo: AP

   Two pickup trucks are seen surrounded by floodwater from the
   Mississippi River outside a garage in Memphis, Tennessee, May 8, 2011

   Weather forecasters say the Mississippi River, the United States'
   largest water system, is expected to crest near record levels in the
   southern state of Tennessee.
   Serious flooding already has been reported along the river. The
   National Weather Service said the Mississippi is expected to crest on
   Tuesday at about 14.6 meters in Tennessee's largest city, Memphis.
   Authorities there have ordered residents to leave more than 1,300
   homes, and thousands of other homes also may be affected by flooding.
   Downstream in the state of Louisiana, authorities are expected to open
   the Organza spillway in an effort to lower river levels in the cities
   of Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
   Authorities warn that even if the spillway is opened, water levels
   could reach between 1.5 to 7.6 meters. If that happens, the floodwaters
   may inundate farmland and several nearby communities.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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