Mississippi river flooding

[edfrp]

Looks like the Mississippi river is threatening some major flooding.



Link to river control background. Makes for interesting "man versus nature" reading.

[Jackleman]

Worse than Katrina! that would be awful

[zax]

Was reading this one earlier:

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1987/02/23/1987_0...

...it's a little short on pictures so I was trying to follow along using Google Earth It makes a lot more sense after seeing the diagrams you posted!

[edfrp]

The John McPhee piece is a great read.

US Army Corps of Engineers updates.

The Michael Bay scenario courtesy of XKCD.

[Motorrad]

Thank fork I didn't move to New Orleans when I had the chance is what I keep thinking. The city still hasn't recovered- hope it isn't as bad this time.

[ErnestM]

I hope Jimbeaux is ok. Word is that BR may be getting some flooding out of this.

[Shuvi Tupya]

ErnestM said:

I hope Jimbeaux is ok.

Indeed, fingers crossed for all concerned.

[Mr Whippy]

Guam said:

What I dont get is given the Mississippi is prone to do this every eighty years or so (IIRC), then why isnt the US better prepared?

It looks like a messy situation. Almost a lose lose situation longer term, possibly starting with this flood!

The Mississippi is going to have to do what it wants to do at some stage, and with most things I think the longer people resist it, the worse it'll be when it finally goes... so there will be pain to come at one point or another. Bad times for those in New Orleans

Dave

[ErnestM]

Guam said:

ErnestM said:

I hope Jimbeaux is ok. Word is that BR may be getting some flooding out of this.

With you 100% on this, he will be in the thick of this either way wont he (part of his dayjob IIRC)?

Yes. Anything disaster or defense related in Louisiana is Jim's baileywick.

[ErnestM]

Flooding in Memphis,

The Sat pictures are only two days apart. The top is the latest...

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=...

River is running at twice it's normal speed.

[superkartracer]

Wonderful how the US have solid flood control measures in-place that work, we can't even control a stream in Bewdley FFS

[Silver993tt]

superkartracer said:

Wonderful how the US have solid flood control measures in-place that work, we can't even control a stream in Bewdley FFS

Really?

"Fed by rainwater and the spring thaw, the Mississippi and its tributaries have caused massive flooding upstream, and officials have said the flooding in Louisiana is the worst since 1927."

"Water will flow south, flooding homes and farms in the state's Cajun country under an expected 10-20ft of water."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13401894

[tinman0]

ErnestM said:

I hope Jimbeaux is ok. Word is that BR may be getting some flooding out of this.

Give over, Jim's fine! I've met MrsJB and no water would dare go near his house Anyway, doubt Jim is dumb enough to buy anything with a "river view" in that bit of the world.

Very interesting what's going on there at the moment, they opened the Morganza Spillway yesterday, and more sections open today. With any luck we'll be in New Orleans next month so might nip up into LA to have a look at the flooding.

The Mississippi levees are absolutely stonkingly huge so it will be interesting to see just how high they are.

http://us.cnn.com/2011/US/05/15/flooding/index.htm...

[Puggit]

Bit disappointed with Jimbeaux's loyalty to PH. Most of us post all day long at work

[tinman0]

Jackleman said:

Worse than Katrina! that would be awful

Yeah well, the difference between this flood and the one that got New Orleans is that the locals actually heed the mandatory evacuation notice they've been given.

What shocked and annoyed many residents along the Gulf Coast whilst Katrina was blowing up was the whole attitude of various New Orleans residents by ignoring all the mandatory evacuation notices. It's very simple, you get the notice, and you get the hell away from it. Load up and ship out. People made themselves a humanitarian problem.

[tinman0]

Puggit said:

Bit disappointed with Jimbeaux's loyalty to PH. Most of us post all day long at work

Quite right. I'll tell him to get an iPhone or something next month when I see him

[Puggit]

Pics and video in (omg!) Daily Mail

[Ozzie Osmond]

tinman0 said:

Give over, Jim's fine! I've met MrsJB and no water would dare go near his house

Well, I hope that's right. Mississippi is one BIG river...

[Fume troll]

This guy's put some effort in!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pl5G2hg1sE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgKsehkcIF8

Cheers,

FT.

[Jimbeaux]

Hello all, sorry for my tardiness. First of all, the river systems flood every Spring, this one is worse due to record rainfall and snow (global warming my arse). As to us controlling the flow, all is as it is designed. The spillway is a natural drainage landmass. The Mississippi and Atchafalya Rivers are kept at a 70%-30% split. The Morganza structure is opened when flow reaches 1.5 million cubic feet per second at the Red River landing lock. New orleans will not flood, nor will Baton Rouge. That is why these structures were designed and are now doing what they are suppossed to do. Those less populated areas that you see flooding on the news are areas that were populated by people who know the risk. They receive a letter each year reminding them they are in a potential flood zone. The last time this was done purposely was 1973, so they play the odds for the less expensive property and fishing advantages. These particular folks are self reliant and accept their fate. Most will be heard to say that they understand it was their choice to settle there and realize this must be done. As of now, the ones who have evacuated have not gone to any of the available shelters but to friends and family. Needless to say, this demigraphic is far more self reliant than many in New Orleans, although just as economically disadvanted. Again, New Orleans and Baton Rouge will be spared due to this planned diversion. The massive river levees are holding. Water will begin receding at the end of May; we shall see.