Army Corps Of Engineers To Open Spillways Along Mississippi River To Spare New Orleans And Baton Rouge

Unfortunately, the decision will consign thousands of square miles and the people who live there to flooding.

The decision to open the spillway was triggered when the river’s flow rate reached 1.5 million cubic feet per second and rising at Red River Landing. Those conditions occurred Friday afternoon, prompting corps officials to announce the spillway would be opened within 24 hours.

This morning, white caps from the churning river lapped at the top of the nearly milelong 125-bay spillway control structure. On the protected side, a small amount of water could be seen seeping through.

...Once the spillway is opened, flooding up to 25 feet deep is expected along a 20-mile-wide, 150-mile-long swath of the Atchafalaya River basin, putting about 25,000 people and 11,000 structures in harm’s way.

Unbelievable.

I should also note, this isn't an isolated problem. There's been catastrophic flooding along the Mississippi and throughout the Midwest. I hope any morons in the area are doing ok.

Update: First spillway to be opened at 3pm central time.

posted by DrewM. at 02:41 PM

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