“Historic, unprecedented” flooding swamps southern U.S. – Mississippi Governor declares state of emergency – “We do not anticipate this situation to end anytime soon. It will be days before we are out of the woods and the waters recede.”
By Doyle Rice, Luke Ramseth, and Wilton Jackson
17 February 2020
JACKSON, Mississippi (USA TODAY) – Weeks of heavy rain have inundated a large portion of the southern U.S., bringing near-record flooding to Mississippi and Tennessee.
In Jackson, Mississippi, hundreds of residents either watched their homes flood over the weekend or worried their residence would soon be drenched as the Pearl River crested Monday at 36.8 feet, its third-highest level ever recorded.
Calling the Jackson floods “historic” and “unprecedented,” Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said in a Sunday press conference that “we do not anticipate this situation to end anytime soon. It will be days before we are out of the woods and the waters recede.”
Reeves declared a state of emergency Saturday because of the floods.
February has seen “a constant stream of wet storms rolling across the Deep South,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Walker, who called it a “crazy month” for the amount of rain that’s fallen across the region.
More wet weather is on the way: Rain showers will develop Monday night over the Mississippi River Valley, further saturating an already soggy South, the Weather Channel said.
The National Weather Service said that this entire area is quite soaked and any additional rainfall may lead to more runoff issues and additional flooding. […]
In Tennessee, February’s rains have been “400% of normal, and we have more coming in this week,” Tennessee Valley Authority spokesman Jim Hopson said. “It’s kind of a never-ending battle. […]
The southern flooding could be a precursor to another disastrous year for flooding, especially in the central U.S.
In fact, there are troubling signs spring 2020 could bring a repeat of widespread flooding in the nation’s midsection somewhat reminiscent of last year’s massive event, the Weather Channel warned.
[more]
‘Historic, unprecedented’ flooding swamps southern USA; Mississippi and Tennessee hardest hit
Mississippi getting more rain as residents endure ‘unprecedented’ flooding
By Max Golembo, Emily Shapiro, and Dan Peck
17 February 2020
(ABC News) – A storm system moving across the country is set to dump even more rain on Mississippi, which is already enduring massive flooding.
Gov. Tate Reeves has declared a state of emergency amid what he called “a historic, unprecedented flood.”
Residents should anticipate more heavy rainfall — possibly one to two inches — on Monday night and Tuesday, the governor warned at a news conference Monday.
The water is expected to recede relatively quickly over the next two to three days, but as it recedes it’ll be fast-moving, the governor said.
“Do not walk or drive through floodwaters,” he stressed. “Turn around, don’t drown.” […]
The pounding rain extends beyond Mississippi. More than 10 inches of rain fell in parts of the South over the last week and a half, pushing many rivers over their banks.
Flood warnings continue for rivers across the South from Texas to the Carolinas. Some areas could get several more inches of rain. [more]
Mississippi getting more rain as residents endure ‘unprecedented’ flooding
