River rising to record levels

The water levels on the Mississippi River north of the Blytheville area have the river tied for its second highest flood in modern history, according to Jim Pogue, spokesperson for the Army Corps of Engineers in Memphis.

Floods are occurring both to the north and south of Blytheville, with river levels as far south as Vicksburg, Miss., reaching record proportions.

These near record-breaking flood levels on the banks of the Mississippi have several local businesses, as well as residents, preparing to head for higher ground.

As of Tuesday morning, the river at Caruthersville, which is the closest gauge to Blytheville, was at 40.18 feet, with National Weather Service predictions saying waters may reach 48 feet by May 7. With the record for flooding at 46 feet, concerns over catastrophic floods are growing, especially with forecasts that show no end in sight for the torrential rainstorms which have pounded the region over the last few weeks.

"We're not flooded yet," said Angela Collins, who lives in Huffman near the river. "But we've been told that the water here is the highest it's been since 1939, and we are all watching forecasts and starting to prepare, in case the levee is breached."

Collins and her neighbors in the area are packing up valuables and important family photos -- things they do not want to risk losing -- and moving them to storage in attics or elsewhere on higher ground.

In addition to residential areas, several area companies have riverfront property, and are taking preventive action. The only part of operations for Nucor-Yamato Steel that is currently a concern, according to company officials, is partner company Kinder-Morgan, Inc., which has property located directly on the riverfront.

Also of concern is Bunge Corporation. Residents in the Huffman area, near the company, have witnessed large shipments of sandbagging materials arriving, and have been told the offices are being packed up and shut down in anticipation of flooding.

Representatives from Kinder-Morgan and Bunge did not respond to repeated phone calls for comment.

Steve Barry, emergency management chief with the Memphis Corps of Engineers, said while levees in the Blytheville and Armorel area are not in danger of failure or breach, people should be aware that flooding in the area is at record stages and should be monitored closely.

"A lot of things can change in a few days," said Barry. "We can't really predict rain further out than a few days, and these predictions for 10 days out are based on only two possible days of rain. We just want people to understand that they need to stay on top of what is happening."

The Corps of Engineers is expected to meet today with the Mississippi River Commission to discuss the possibility of an intentional breach of the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway. This breach would flood more than 100,000 acres of land in Mississippi County, Mo., lowering the water levels upstream. The possible action would use explosives to breach the levee and allow the floodwaters into the farmland, which Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said would affect many area families.

Even though Pogue and Barry are confident that levees in the Mississippi County, Ark., area are not in danger of being breached, they added that officials from the Corps are in the area, constantly monitoring the situation.

sharris@blythevillecourier.com