MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 24, 2008 – The Memphis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
today officially ended its floodfighting efforts on the Mississippi River and the White River in Arkansas.
Floodfighting on the Mississippi River began March 19 in the Missouri Bootheel. The flooding later
extended into the area around Dyersburg, Tenn., and along the White River in Arkansas. Some
assistance was also provided to areas in northern Mississippi which experienced localized flooding.
“We are relieved the sustained flood stages which began in March 2008 appear to be receding
and are proud to have stood side by side with local communities to prevent and mitigate the impact of
this flooding,” Col. Tom Smith, commander of the Corps’ Memphis District said. “Our task now turns
to restoring and improving the flood control system so important to our region.”
The Missouri and Tennessee areas reached a Phase II floodfight status later in the month
prompting the Corps to establish field offices in Cape Girardeau, Mo., with eight Corps emergency
workers on duty there, seven workers on duty at the office in Caruthersville, Mo., and nine workers at an office in Dyersburg, Tenn.
During Phase II floodfight activities, Corps of Engineers personnel closely monitor flood control
works including levees, floodwalls and pumping stations. They also make technical and materiel
assistance available to local communities and flood control organizations to aid them in their
floodfighting efforts.
On the White River, flooding never exceeded the Phase I status level. The Corps monitored the
flood control works and worked closely with local authorities there. They coordinated these efforts out
of the Memphis District’s Wynne, Ark., Area Office.
During the current flooding, Memphis District Emergency Operations officials distributed
188,000 sandbags to city and other local officials in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi.
The District also loaned 22 portable pumps to meet local and state needs. These were used primarily to supplement the work done by existing permanent pump stations and other flood control works. To help protect levees from wave wash and other erosion, the District also distributed 100,000 square feet of poly sheeting.
The Memphis District has obligated $1.4 million on the current floodfight. The Mississippi River
had dual crests of about the same flood stage elevations during the end of March 2008 and again in the middle of April 2008. With these events occurring two weeks apart, the Mississippi River’s Main Line Levee System within the Memphis District prevented flood damages estimated at $4.2 billion.
Release no. 08-10