Thousands of people in Memphis are being told to evacuate as the slowly surging Mississippi River threatens to engulf their homes.Emergency workers are handing out fliers to nearly 1,000 homes that read 'Evacuate!!! Your property is in danger right now'.
Hundreds of families from Illinois to Louisiana have already fled their homes and those living further north could be forced to evacuate in the next two weeks.
Families face the agonising decision about whether to stay or abandon their homes as water levels rise threatening to swamp communities on the Mississippi Delta just yards from the giant river.
Shelters have been opened and the bright yellow fliers include a phone number to arrange transportation as people leave.
The flood water is expected to almost break an 84-year record on Wednesday when officials say the river level will top 48 feet. In 1937 the river reached 48.7 feet in Memphis.
But officials warned people could be dealing with the aftermath of the flood for weeks as it may be the end of May before the flooded areas dry out.
The Coast Guard closed a five mile stretch stretch of the Mississippi on Friday because of concerns that the wake from big boats could push water over floodwalls into the town of Caruthersville.
At Muddy Waters, a sliver of land in northwest Mississippi, Ken Gelston, said: 'We're getting our mamma and daddy out,' as he helped pack furniture, photos and other belongings into pickup trucks in Greenville, Mississippi.
His parents' house sits on Eagle Lake, which the Army Corps of Engineers expects to rise significantly.
'We could have five feet (1.5 meters) of water in there,' Mr Gelston said, nodding at the house. 'That's what they're telling us.' Read More
