Flooding along the Mississippi River

Flooding along the Mississippi River

A home is nearly covered with floodwater May 12, 2011 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Mississippi river at Vicksburg is expected to crest at a record 58.5 feet. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

Bobby Gorman (left), gets help from his son Blake (center) and friend Dylan Teague as he rescues a boatload of possessions from his flooded farmhouse May 12, 2011 near Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Mississippi river at Vicksburg is expected to crest at a record 58.5 feet around May 19. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

A table covered with household goods floats in floodwater May 12, 2011 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Mississippi river at Vicksburg is expected to crest at a record 58.5 feet. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

A home is surrounded with floodwater May 12, 2011 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Mississippi river at Vicksburg is expected to crest at a record 58.5 feet. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

A flood gauge is posted by the road in front of a home May 15, 2011 in Butte LaRose, Louisiana. If the water reaches the flood stage of 27 feet, as predicted, it will be more than half way up the nearby homes. Most of the residents of the small town of Butte LaRose are packing their possessions or moving their entire homes because the town is expected to be severely flooded after the Army Corps of Engineers opened the Morganza spillway to divert floodwater down the Atchafalaya River and away from the cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

Brittany Ryder, 11, looks on as family members clear out their house during a mandatory evacuation on May 15, 2011 in Melville, Louisiana. The Morganza Spillway floodgates were opened for the first time in nearly forty years yesterday to lower the crest of the flooding Mississippi River. St. Landry Parish officials ordered a mandatory evacuation today for around 2000 residents in Krotz Springs and Melville, Louisiana.

A handmade sign reading "We Will Return" is seen on May 15, 2011 in Port Barre, Louisiana. The Morganza Spillway floodgates were opened for the first time in nearly forty years yesterday to lower the crest of the flooding Mississippi River. St. Landry Parish officials ordered a mandatory evacuation today for around 2000 residents in nearby Krotz Springs and Melville, Louisiana.

Jude Hebert stands near marks he made near the front door of his home to record the flood level of the Atchafalaya River May 15, 2011 in Butte LaRose, Louisiana. The river is expected to crest at the 27 foot mark. The small town of Butte LaRose is expected to be severely flooded after the Army Corps of Engineers opened the Morganza spillway to divert floodwater down the Atchafalaya River and away from the cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

National Guardsman Spec. Lionel Lefleur stands guard on top of the levee checking vehicles trying to enter town May 15, 2011 in Butte LaRose, Louisiana. The National Guard was trying to allow only resident trying to evacuate their homes into the town. The small town of Butte LaRose is expected to be severely flooded after the Army Corps of Engineers opened the Morganza spillway to divert floodwater down the Atchafalaya River and away from the cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

Barbara Fontanille (left) taks a photo as husband Michael and son Tyler watch water rising to their porch on the Atchafalaya River on May 16, 2011 in Simmesport, Louisiana. The family has no flood insurance and have relocated to a trailer provided by FEMA. The Morganza Spillway floodgates were opened for the first time in nearly forty years to lower the crest of the flooding Mississippi River. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Louisiana. Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

Barbara Fontanille searches for a tire she wanted to recover in front of her porch on the rising Atchafalaya River on May 16, 2011 in Simmesport, Louisiana. Her family has no flood insurance and have relocated to a trailer provided by FEMA. The Morganza Spillway floodgates were opened for the first time in nearly forty years to lower the crest of the flooding Mississippi River. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Louisiana. Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

Gracie Durrett walks through the floodwaters from the rising Atchafalaya River while her brother plays nearby on May 16, 2011 in Simmesport, Louisiana. The Morganza Spillway floodgates were opened for the first time in nearly forty years to lower the crest of the flooding Mississippi River into the Atchafalaya Basin. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Louisiana. Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

Inmates from the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility help secure a levee constructed around a medical center to hold back floodwater from the Mississippi River May 16, 2011 in Vidalia, Louisiana. Heavy spring rains left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas. On May 14 the Army Corps of Engineers opened the Morganza spillway in Louisiana to divert water from the rising Mississippi River down the Atchafalaya River and away from the cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Inmates from the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility help secure a levee constructed around a medical center to hold back floodwater from the Mississippi River May 16, 2011 in Vidalia, Louisiana. Heavy spring rains left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas. On May 14 the Army Corps of Engineers opened the Morganza spillway in Louisiana to divert water from the rising Mississippi River down the Atchafalaya River and away from the cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Flood waters from the Mississippi River encroach on to farm land near Tunica, Miss., Wednesday, May 11, 2011. Gov. Haley Barbour and other officials took an aerial trip along the Mississippi River and some of its tributaries to view the spreading damage from the flood waters. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Through the clouds from a mile high, water churns while flowing through a single bay in this aerial of the Morganza Spillway Saturday May 14, 2011, in Morganza, La., which was opened to help drop the level of the Mississippi River downstream. More bays will be opened as the Mississippi River rises. (AP Photo/The Advocate, Bill Feig)

DeVuan Nixon, 11, helps his grandfather load sandbags Sunday, May 15, 2011 at the Gibson Fire Station in Gibson, La. The area is expected to see heavy flooding as a result of the opening of the Morganza Spillway. (AP Photo/The Houma Courier, Julia Rendleman)

April Bordelon helps her brother Justin Reech move a load of belongings from his home in Big Bend, La., into temporary housing, known as Canadaville, in Simmesport, La., which was formerly used by Hurricane Katrina evacuees, as they rush to clear before rising floodwaters reach it , Monday, May 16, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

National Guardsmen Keith Sykes, left, and Shawn Cholera prepare a levee Sunday, May 15, 2011 off of Lake Palourde Road in Amelia, La. Sykes and Cholera, together with the 205th engineering battalion, out of Bogalusa, La. have been in the area since Wednesday, May 11 preparing for the impending flooding. (AP Photo/The Houma Courier, Julia Rendleman)

Brenda Hynum, left, hugs her daughter Debra Emery as she watches floodwaters rise around her mobile home in Vicksburg, Miss., Monday, May 16, 2011. A sand berm they built around their trailer failed in the night and floodwaters from the rising Mississippi river rushed in. "We tried so hard to stop it. It goes from anger to utter disbelief that this could happen. I just want to go home." Emery said. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

A secondary levee protecting 10,000 acres of farmland at Bunches Bend in East Carroll Parish, La., failed Friday, May 13, 2011, just as Gov. Bobby Jindal flew over the area. The breach of the farm levee wont affect the mainline levee. Louisiana National Guardsmen took Jindal flood officials and media on an aerial tour of the levee from Concordia Parish north to East Carroll Parish Friday. It was the governors second aerial tour of northeastern Louisianas four Mississippi River parishes. (AP Photo/The News-Star, Margaret Croft)

Water from the Mississippi River rushes out of open bays on the Morganza Spillway in Morganza, La., Monday, May 16, 2011. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Floodwaters surround the Golding Barge Line offices in Vicksburg, Miss., Monday, May 16, 2011. The flooding Mississippi river is expected to crest in Vicksburg on Thursday. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Mississippi flood waters creep up the Old Train Depot and flood walls of downtown Vicksburg, Miss., Friday, May 13, 2011. Mississippi River flooding is expected on both sides of the river along the tributaries that are being backed up onto communities, farm lands and businesses. The water level is not expected to crest in Vicksburg until Thursday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Mississippi River flood waters isolate the Gold Strike, right, Horseshoe, center and Roadhouse Casino Hotels in Robinsonville, Miss., Wednesday, May 11, 2011. Gov. Haley Barbour and other officials took an aerial trip along the Mississippi River and some of its tributaries to view the spreading damage from the flood waters. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

A racoon tries to escape the floodwaters of the Yazoo River, near Yazoo City, Miss., Thursday, May 12, 2011. Thousands of acres of corn, wheat, soybean and cotton crops are now underwater as the tributaries are backing up from flooding along the Mississippi River. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)