Today I went to Vicksburg to observe the River. It is around elevation 56 today, but is expected to crest at 57.5 on Thursday there. I took some photographs and 3 horrible-quality videos. You can see them here.
Some photos were taken in town at a riverside park; others along Highway 61 south of Vicksburg (that highway is closed north of Vicksburg).
This is truly frightening for many people. I feel like so many people have been caught up in tornado activity (and yes, possibly sympathy exhaustion) that they don’t worry about the flooding. It’s kind of like a friend said of a particularly devastating hurricane: people tell you it’s coming for so long and you don’t believe it, and it’s not an emergency, that you don’t realize when it comes for you that it’s for real.
I was there not that long ago for a nursing convention. Vicksburg is a beautiful city. I truly hope it does ok.
I mentioned a couple weeks ago to a friend, as we talked about MS and the weather that affected it so much lately: what’s next? Do we burn down the rubble? I mean shit - it’s not like we had that much to take away. Was the crushing poverty just too much to ask for?
I never could have imagined we’d have the type of flooding we to here in Memphis too. I’m lucky my street is a little higher but there was flooding all around us. I have a few photos of my neighborhood here:
The last photo is of the day the first of the rain came.
Most of Vicksburg is up on the bluff and will be alright.
Seems to me that South Louisiana has been battered a lot over the last few years too. Katrina, Rita, BP oil in the marshes, now flooding from the River … dang.
Rushgeekgirl, my brother used to live in Memphis and he’s passed along a lot of photos of the recent flooding there. It’s incredible.
Economic impact of the Mississippi River Flood could surpass that of Katrina. $7 to $9 billion.
http://msbusiness.com/magnoliamarketplace/2011/05/16/flood-economic-impact-numbers-are-trickling-in/
I’ve been following your Memphis flooding pics on Facebook. I feel just awful for everyone in this situation!
I’m so sorry for this. 
The South is taking a pounding this year.
Why you no call me? I’m in Vicksburg!
This Hill City has seen a bunch of grief already. Most of the people suffering live in the lowest-lying parts of the county (obviously), but now due to road closures, the flood is impacting many more people. I live about 5 blocks from the river, but if my house floods, half of the nation will be underwater! Across the river, though, is a different story. Low-lying Louisiana is hit much harder by this flood. I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures on CNN.
Oh well, the crest is this week; there isn’t really anything we can do other than help those who need it.
I thought you were away at school!
I graduated last spring. Been in Vicksburg for about 6 months now. Guess I should stay more current!
Dammit. Time just goes by too fast. Next time I will. 
I went down to the Mississippi here in Memphis to see the river last weekend. It was amazing; I couldn’t have imagined the river that high if I hadn’t seen it. This was a Sunday afternoon, and the streets by the river were fairly packed with people from all over who’d driven down just to see this historic flood. The atmosphere was almost like a street festival.
What’s really odd, though, is that I live in Memphis, about three miles from the river, and if I hadn’t seen it on the news, I’d have had no idea there was a flood. My neighborhood, and every area I drive through going to work and such, is totally dry and normal and has been all along.
Yeah, Memphis is mostly high ground. Did you see the cool photo of the flooded Tom Lee memorial?
I live close to the region where the Corps of Engineers blew up the levee at in Missouri. I’m happy to see the water migrating south, but I do realize that is stressing the levees in Miss, LA, Ark. I was close enough to feel the dynamite blowing up the levees. (I thought it was earthquake). I didn’t hear, but only because the TV and dishwasher were running
Cairo Ill is starting to dry out.
My best wishes to everyone
I did see them. That was awesome and kind of eerie, given the story of Tom Lee.