Nearly 3 Million In Mississippi Still Remain Under State Of Emergency From Historical Flooding

Forecasters in Mississippi are bracing for what could be one of the most devastating floods in the state's history, as days of heavy downpours stoke fears that a river in the state capital of Jackson will continue to swell beyond its banks and threaten the homes of thousands of people. Flooding has already began to ripple across parts of Jackson and surrounding areas, and state and federal officials are working to contain the severity of the flooding in the face of additional rainfall expected in the days ahead.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency Saturday, and officials have been releasing water from a local reservoir, which was approaching capacity, in order to reduce downstream flooding and allow residents more time to seek shelter. Torrential rain has given way to sunny conditions and clear skies in central Mississippi, but Reeves warned residents in low-lying areas not to assume the flooding risk has passed.  "Do not let that lull you into a false sense of hope," Reeves said at a press conference on Sunday morning. "The flooding has not receded," he said.

While officials saw hope in water levels rising slower than expected in the past 24 hours, there remains a real possibility of flooding suddenly worsening. Emergency officials are keeping their eyes on the forecast later this week of several inches of rain between Tuesday and Thursday, which could make flooding more acute. -Full Report

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