By Randy Economy
Memphis, Tenn.
Friday, May 6, 2011
6:03 p.m.
The MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI RIVER is over her banks and on a flooding rampage in the southern part of the United States tonight. The latest city to be hit by the overflown iconic river is the City of Memphis. Shelby County, and so so many more are on Emergency Alert and homes are being destroyed by the rising river. They are still planning on playing the NBA Playoff Game between the Memphis Grizzles and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. BE CAREFUL!
Here is the current Status of the Flood Emergency from the Shelby County Emergency Operation Centers as of May 06, 2011 07:32 pm:
The public is encouraged to call (901) 324-8799 or text (901)-290-7530
River Stages
River Current Stage Projected for 7AM Sat
Mississippi River 46.5 ft 46.6 ft
Wolf River @ Germantown 9.2 ft 8.7 ft
Loosahatchie River @ Arlington 2 ft 1.8 ft
Latest Update
• Water is continuing to rise in many areas, especially in sections of north Memphis, south Memphis and north Shelby County near Millington
• Memphis Police and Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies visited more than 1,000 residences today in those neighborhoods
• Officers took flyers by homes and apartment buildings to warn people about the rising waters along the Mississippi River and its tributaries
• 959 city and 137 county residences received notices by law enforcement officers
• The Memphis Chamber is assisting by contacting business owners about the dangers of rising waters
• Until the river subsides, officers will remind residents to be on the lookout for rising water and be prepared to leave their homes.
• Those who leave their homes should first attempt to stay with relatives and friends. Others without a place to go will be assigned to a specific shelter
• Those who need shelter will be given instructions at the Raleigh Springs Mall, Austin Peay at Yale Road
• As more people leave their homes, additional shelters will likely be opening
• Police officers and sheriff’s deputies will make routine patrols of areas that have been evacuated
• Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander and several Congressional representatives received a briefing about the flood. The delegation also toured areas in north Memphis and north Shelby County that have already received flood damage
• Law enforcement officers, firefighters and health department workers are visiting neighborhoods today to warn people in the affected areas about the flood.
• Those who leave their homes should first attempt to stay with relatives and friends. Those without a place to go will be assigned to a specific shelter.
• Those who need shelter will be given instructions at the Raleigh Springs Mall at Austin Peay at Yale Road.
• As more people leave their homes, additional shelters will likely be opening.
• Local law enforcement will be making routine patrols of areas that have been evacuated.
Properties affected by the flood
There are new projections about areas affected by the flood. Maps are under revision. Specific locations will be available once the maps are completed.
• Mud Island, homes along the eastern bank may experience some level of flooding along the Wolf River chute.
• Mud Island along Island Drive may also be impacted as well as the bank along Tom Lee Park .
• Residents in several zip code areas who live near rivers and creeks that branch off the Mississippi River need to be on high alert for possible flooding. It does not necessarily mean properties will entirely flood, only that flood waters will affect the areas in some way.
• 2,832 properties
Image via Wikipedia• 706 single family residences
• 12 Apartment complexes-(432 units)
• 226 Businesses
• 322 Industrial sites
• 6 Schools:
1. Northside High School
2. Montessori School on Harbor Town
3. Hawkins Mill Elementary
4. Westside High School
5. Westside Middle School
6. Mitchell High School
Image via WikipediaImpacted Areas by Zip Code
Downtown/Midtown: 38103, 38105
South Memphis: 38106, 38109
North Memphis: 38108
Frayser: 38127, 38128
Arlington: 38002
Whitehaven: 38116, 38131, 38132
North-East Memphis/Bartlett: 38134
Southeast Memphis: 38118
Millington Area: 38053
Image via WikipediaBerclair (Summer/Graham) Area: 38122Presidents Island: 38113
Dangers of Flood Waters
• If you have to leave home, take a disaster kit with you along with important documents, records, medicine and other necessary items.
• Officials with the Shelby County Health Department say people should not come into contact with flood waters. Sewage and other contaminates can make people seriously ill especially if cuts and open wounds become infected.
Image via Wikipedia• The Shelby County Health Department’s Water Quality Program encourages all private well water customers to take proper precautions to protect wells from service interruption. For questions, call (901) 544-7775, Monday-Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm or (901) 508-7455 after hours.
