May 10, 2011
By: Bruce Berry
Memphis homeowners were encouraged to update their property insurance policies to ensure flood coverage ahead of an expected surge of the Mississippi River.
The river reached a historic peak early this week and its rising could lead to record flooding across the region, forecasters said. Joe Lowery of the National Weather Service told NPR the crest that was set to hit Tuesday would likely come late Monday night, bringing water levels as high as 48 feet in some areas of the city.
Memphis Mayor AC Wharton said residents are ready, knocking on doors in some areas with warnings that homeowners abandon their property should the water get too high. Some homes have already seen water seep in as the river swells, and NPR reports officials have already ordered the evacuation of 1,300 homes.
Memphis is only the first Tennessee community expected to be hit - nearby Natchez and Vicksburg are bracing for crests later this month. The river's waters are gradually heading toward the Gulf of Mexico and could lead to elevated flood levels in New Orleans by May 23, reported The Guardian.
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