The bulging Mississippi River pushed south Friday, sending hundreds of residents scrambling to get to higher ground as officials warned of a torrent of water if a major Louisiana spillway is opened. In the Arkansas town of Helena, the river crested at 56.4 feet, according to the National Weather Service, 12.4 feet above the flood stage there.
The river's slow pace has given emergency responders more time to prepare, forecasters said.
In Louisiana, the National Guard worked around the clock to construct a flood barrier in Morgan City, where the Atchafalaya River was already 3.15 feet above flood stage, according to the National Weather Service.
"When you have really high levels like this, it can add up to several weeks (for the flood waters to move through)," said Amanda Roberts of the National Weather Service. While that gives residents extra time to get ready, it also means that land could remain under water for some time, she said. (read more)
