Local levees in no danger of being breached or topped

In spite of record flood levels in surrounding areas caused by relentless rain for extended time periods, Mississippi County is in no immediate river flood danger, according to county officials.

Weather conditions have led to record floodwaters along the Mississippi River. At its closest gauge to Blytheville, which is located in Caruthersville, the waters have reached a threatening level. According to alerts from the National Weather Service, floodwaters at the Caruthersville gauge had reached 45.5 feet as of 11 p.m. Monday, and are currently predicted to continue rising until they reach a record of 49.5 feet by Friday evening.

The levees in Mississippi County, however, are in no danger of being breached or topped, said Joseph Richmond, the county's emergency management coordinator.

"Our concern was mainly flash flooding due to the heavy rains," said Richmond, "and hopefully now the rain is going to clear up for a few days and give all of that time to go back down. We've had some streets flooded out and water in one home that I've heard of, but nothing of major concern."

With the Blytheville area's main flooding danger coming from the recent torrential rains, the threat should begin to dissolve over the weekend, as the forecasts are calling for sunny skies.

In support of this position is Steve Southern of the Army Corps of Engineers in Mississippi County.

"We've been looking at the area of the lower St. Francis river basin, which goes from the Blytheville area all the way down to Marianna, and all of those levees are in good condition," said Southern.

In Caruthersville, a recent addition of 2 to 5 inches of rain has increased flash flooding concerns and caused several business and residents to seek higher ground. The Lady Luck Casino closed Monday evening, and Trinity Marine employees have been laid off until mid-June. Residents in the Cottonwood Point area have also been forced to leave their homes because of high water. Despite these problems, however, and multiple circulating rumors, Caruthersville has not been evacuated, and city officials there simply ask residents to stay tuned in for updates and be prepared.

Southern also added, in reference to the flooding situation upstream, that the planned use of the New Madrid floodway north of Cairo, Ill., (see story, Page 3) is a fulfillment of what the area was "designed to do."

While some farmland is being affected, the floodway is not a populated area, and Southern said the blowing of one of the levees, allowing the basin area to flood, will lower as much as 4 feet of water from the floodwall as far as Cairo. Southern also said the Corps action will not cause additional flooding in Caruthersville or anywhere in Mississippi County, Ark.

The Corps of Engineers plans to keep watch on all levees in the area, and is beginning an operation to raise a levee in the Lake City area Tuesday afternoon.

"The Lake City levee is strong," said Southern, "and it is not in danger of failing or being topped. We are just being very cautious, and with waters continuing to rise, we are going to add an additional 2 feet to the top of this area's levee. This will ensure that the area stays dry."

sharris@blythevillecourier.com