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Vicksburg prepares as Mississippi River rises

Public work crews to start blocking off flood gate openings
Adam McWilliams
Vicksburg prepares as Mississippi River rises

Public work crews to start blocking off flood gate openings

WEBVTT SCOTT SIMMONS/REPORTI NG: THIS MAY LOOK LIKE THE EDGE OF A CREEK BUT IT IS ACTUALLY CHICKASAW ROAD ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF VICKSBURG BUT ONE AREA THAT IS STARTING TO FEEL THE EFFECTS OF THE RISING MISSISSIPPI RIVER. MORE RAINWATER FROM THE MIDWEST IS PUSHING IT'S WAY SOUTH, FORCING MORE OF THE MISSISSIPPI TO SHOVE IT'S WAY INLAND. YOU CAN SEE FROM EAGLE EYE 16... THE RIVER HAS ALREADY CLAIMED PORTIONS OF THE LOW LYING ROADWAYS IN THE WARREN COUNTY AREA ...AND PROMISES TO CLAIM MORE AS THE RIVER CONTINUES TO RISE. VICKSBURG PUBLIC WORKS CREWS HAVE ALREADY PLACED PUMPS IN PLACE AT THE CLAY STREET FLOOD GATES ...AND WILL HAVE CLOSE THOSE GATES OFF SOON. GARNET VAN NORMAN/VICKSBUR G PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR: WE WILL HAVE TO SET SOME STEEL AND THEN WE START PUTTING THE STOP LOGS IN AND THIS GOES UNDER AT 47.8 SO IF IT GOES TO 48 WE WILL HAVE TO CLOSE IT. SO MUCH MORE WATER NOW ...BARRELING SOU AND THAT HAS CAUSED DANGEROUS NAVIGATION ISSUES. ROB SADLER/GOLDING BARGE LINE: WE ARE HAVING TO CUT DRAFTS ON SOME OF OUR BARGES, DECREASE THE QUANTITY DUE TO SAFETY LEVELS ,DUE TO THE RIVER RISING. ROB SADLER WITH GOLDING BARGE LINE SAYS THEY ARE HAVING TO LESSEN THE LOADS ON BARGES TRAVELING SOUTH SO THEY ARE SAFER TO NAVIGATE. ROB SADLER/GOLDING BARGE LINE: THE MAN THING IS AS YOU ARE TRYING TO TOP THE TOW AROUND YOU HAVE ALL THE CURRENT COMING DOWN ON THAT BARGE SO WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO STOP THE TOW IT IS HARDER TO STOP IF YOU HAVE A HEAVIER WEIGHTED BARGE. THE RETURN TRIPS UP RIVER ARE TAKING LONGER BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED CURRENT. THE PROBLEMS ARE EXPECTED TO WORSEN IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS. SCOTT SIMMONS/REPORTI NG: THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS EXPECTED TO CREST AROUND THE FIRST OF MARCH THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS BUT THE CHALLENGE IS THAT THIS EARLY IN THE FLOOD SEASON PROBLEMS THAT USUALL COME IN MARCH AND APRIL WHEN A SNOW MELT UP NORTH FINDS IT'S WAY DOWN HERE. IN VICKSBURG SCOTT SIMMONS 16 WAPT NEWS.
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Vicksburg prepares as Mississippi River rises

Public work crews to start blocking off flood gate openings
Adam McWilliams
The city of Vicksburg is preparing for flooding from the Mississippi River in the coming weeks.According to the National Weather Service, the Mississippi River will go above flood stage Friday and will crest Feb. 28 at 47 feet.On Wednesday, floodwaters were pushing over Chickasaw Road north of Vicksburg and Vicksburg city officials are making preparations.Public work crews will start blocking off the floodgate openings on Clay Street in the next few days, which will prevent access for boat launches and keep the water from pushing further into the city."We will have to set some steel and then we start putting the stop logs in and this goes under at 47.8 feet, so if it goes to 48 we will have to close it," said Vicksburg Public Works Director, Garnet Van Norman.
VICKSBURG, Miss. —

The city of Vicksburg is preparing for flooding from the Mississippi River in the coming weeks.

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According to the National Weather Service, the Mississippi River will go above flood stage Friday and will crest Feb. 28 at 47 feet.

On Wednesday, floodwaters were pushing over Chickasaw Road north of Vicksburg and Vicksburg city officials are making preparations.

Public work crews will start blocking off the floodgate openings on Clay Street in the next few days, which will prevent access for boat launches and keep the water from pushing further into the city.

"We will have to set some steel and then we start putting the stop logs in and this goes under at 47.8 feet, so if it goes to 48 we will have to close it," said Vicksburg Public Works Director, Garnet Van Norman.