Monday, May 9, 2011

Memphis braces for river crest, New Orleans spillway open

The city of Memphis braced for the Mississippi River to peak at a near record level, and downstream the US government opened a spillway above New Orleans to relieve flooding pressure on the low-lying city.

In the Memphis area, Tennessee officials have warned more than 3,000 properties that they could be damaged by flooding with the Mississippi expected to reach its highest crest in 74 years and remain at high levels for some time.

More than 1,300 area homes were receiving notices urging people to evacuate until the water levels recede.

"It's going to be a nasty one, it's going to be an expensive one," Bob Nations, director of the Shelby County Office of Preparedness.

The Mississippi is now expected to crest at 48 feet in Memphis, just inches below the record 48.7 feet set in 1937, the National Weather Service said.