News Release Manager

Corps of Engineers lowers level of floodfight response in most areas

Published March 16, 2018

MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 16, 2018 – With river stages falling in all locations on the Mississippi River and regional tributaries within its area of responsibility, the Memphis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will soon end its floodfight activities in all Areas.

Memphis District Emergency Management Chief Steven Berry said he expects the District to discontinue Phase I floodfight activities in the Memphis (Tennessee) and Helena (Arkansas) areas on the Mississippi River by the end of the day today.

At 11 a.m. today the Memphis gage was 37.4 feet and falling, just four-tenths of a foot above the Phase I activation level. Forecasters expect the river to fall below the National Weather Service flood stage mark of 34 feet on Sunday.

“Based on current forecasts we also expect to move from a Phase II floodfight to a Phase I level of activity in the Lower St. Francis (River) Area in Arkansas on Saturday, and discontinue all floodfighting throughout the Memphis District sometime Monday,” he said.

Personnel from the Memphis District, working with local partners at the many levee and drainage boards impacted by this event, continue to monitor the condition of all flood risk reduction works including levees, flood walls and pumping stations in all Areas.

Although the current forecast calls for no significant precipitation to fall in this region in the immediate future, USACE leaders and emergency operations personnel continue to monitor the situation and stay in touch with National Weather Service forecasters as we approach the more traditional spring high water season.

 “We have already experienced significant water levels along the Mississippi River basin this season,” Jim Belles, Meteorologist in Charge at the National Weather Service in Memphis said. “We still have a portion of the spring season left to go. We continue to closely monitor rainfall projections and are advising vigilance for the potential of high water again later this season.”

 

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Contact
Jim Pogue
(901) 544-4109
james.t.pogue@usace.army.mil

Release no. 18-007