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Carol Forsloff - People worry now in the South and Central areas of the country for good reason. They have faced disasters before, great floods in the 1920's and 1930's and the earthquake that impacted much of the Central US in 1811 - 1812, the type experts say could happen again this year.
This year the government has decided to use planned levee removals in certain areas of the South and Central areas to relieve the potential of more disastrous flooding in major population areas. But the promises made today are not unlike those made in the past, when people were told the levees would hold, and they didn't.
Earthquake issues may be the focus of the Pacific Northwest, but experts tell us that a deep fault under the earth, with a much greater and wider potential for damage, lies in the Central Mississippi region, a place hard hit in the winter of 1811 - 1812. It was then the mighty Mississippi literally swamped whole areas of the region, across farmlands and small towns, as three earthquakes of the time, estimated 7.5 - 8.0 brought fear and destruction. This too is a fear to bring
government focus about the need for protecting populations, especially in the areas surrounding major cities.
Memphis and New Orleans have felt the floods from these periods of history. They are the places of a romantic past, unique in music and culture, and major attractions in the South. They represent the great plantations, the sweeping history, the images of people singing, swimming joyously along the riverbanks. But this year the river's tributaries aren't look upon with welcome, as the flooding threatens farmlands once again.
TV stations in Memphis and other areas tell us residents fear the same type of flooding that occurred in 1927 could happen again. Many residents have evacuated; others are poised to leave. The Mayor of Memphis, John Holden, has warned residents in those areas anticipated to be most impacted. Haley Barbour, Governor of Mississippi, has also ordered evacuations in low-lying areas, while Bobby Jindal has voiced an alert for 19 parishes in Louisiana, most especially Vidalia, a place that could be hard hit from floodwaters.
Memphis saw the Mississippi reach 43.8 feet on Tuesday, poised to reach 48 feet on May 1, just below the record set in 1937 at 48.7 feet. In Louisiana it is expected the waters may top the levee walls with heights over 50 feet. Already hundreds of people have taken to shelters.
The regions called the Central Mississippi area has seen the pain of floods before, and this year it has reeled from tornadoes. An earthquake potential concerns government authorities and has created predictions from faith groups that it will come this year and create the kind of havoc that could be part of an Armageddon scenario, with people fighting each other and the demonic wrath of Satan there to help. Some scientists say there is no certainty an earthquake will occur this year or even in the very near future, although the potential is there, given the number of quakes in the area.
The New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) is the most active seismic area in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and is located in southeastern Missouri, northeastern Arkansas, western Tennessee, western Kentucky and southern Illinois. Some believe the 3.8 earthquake in Arkansas in February of this year is a harbinger of what is yet to come. FEMA is setting up a disaster preparation drill for this month.
In the meantime, the South is preparing for the worst from flooding, as the areas considered to be among the most beautiful treasures in American history, in Memphis and New Orleans, folks hope won't face Mother's Nature's wrath as happened many times in a place where people fear it may occur again. In the
Mississippi Alluvia Plain scientists tell us habitat, already under threat, can be seriously hurt by events that upset its delicate ecosystem, as has already occurred from oil spills and the topographical nature of the area itself.
The people fear a repeat of the
floods of 1927.
Authorities see problems happening in greater magnitude now and in the future, as a result of
climate change.
