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Louisiana Prepares For Flooding Of Mississippi And Red Rivers

Tobin Fricke
The Morganza Spillway was last opened in 2011.

Governor Bobby Jindal has issued a state of emergency as the Mississippi River rises due to floodwater making its way south after heavy rain the Midwest.

Mike Steele, spokesman with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says the declaration allows state agencies to coordinate emergency preparations, such as diverting water and reinforcing levees.

Steele says, “We have a little time now before the situation could get critical here, so what we’re asking is that if people live along the Red River or the Mississippi River --  if they have businesses that are along the river -- now is the time to take action.”   

The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings along the length of the river.

The Army Corps of Engineers is considering opening the Bonnet Carre and Morganza Spillways in order to divert floodwaters in coming weeks. On Wednesday the Corps opened a flood control structure about 50 miles northwest of Baton Rouge to distribute water between the Mississippi and the Atchafalaya Rivers.

Support for WWNO's Coastal Desk comes from the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the Coypu Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation. 

Tegan has reported on the coast for WWNO since 2015. In this role she has covered a wide range of issues and subjects related to coastal land loss, coastal restoration, and the culture and economy of Louisiana’s coastal zone, with a focus on solutions and the human dimensions of climate change. Her reporting has been aired nationally on Planet Money, Reveal, All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Marketplace, BBC, CBC and other outlets. She’s a recipient of the Pulitzer Connected Coastlines grant, CUNY Resilience Fellowship, Metcalf Fellowship, and countless national and regional awards.

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