Mississippi River right now is at its highest ever recorded water-level since the 1950s. Measuring at around 17.2 m, it is as yet still rising and many towns located on the river banks in Midwest America, including Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota are being threatened by flooding. This is due to unprecedented rainfall in March and April that has swollen rivers, destabilised levees, and compromised drainage systems.
The National Weather Service has recently issued numerous flash flood warnings across the Midwest. At least five people have already been lost and the damage to property is estimated to run into millions of dollars. According to several American news sources, this is the most intense flooding on record in the region in decades.
Authorities in states such as Wisconsin have sounded out a red alert for citizens living on the banks of Mississippi River, with expectations that the water-levels may further rise in the next few days due to more expected rainfall in the area. This is despite the efforts of countless teams of volunteers and the US Army Corps of Engineers striving to build higher and stronger levees.
The centrepiece of the strategy to contain these floods is a pair of levees that run almost 500 feet along the outskirts of Green Bay. However, they too have beleaguered by the floods on a number of occasions and are likely to see more stress in the days to come.
The US Army Corps of Engineers have been out in force since the beginning of May, installing pumps, constructing safety barriers and so far, they have lowered the water by almost three metres in some areas.
Despite this, the situation remains far from being under control. With reports indicating that an additional 2-3 cm of rain is expected to fall in the coming weeks, various local organisations and civic bodies have requested additional aid from state government as many of them are ill-equipped to deal with the crisis themselves.
Social Implications
The social fallout of the current situation is far-reaching with thousands of citizens left homeless, bereft of their livelihoods. According to the Emergency Management Agency, the electricity grids in almost a dozen communities are either damaged or flooded and the quality of water for drinking has been compromised at a large-scale.
Relief and aid efforts have been hampered by extremely low availability of sandbags, with even some of the volunteers’ forced at times to resort to whatever resource they find available, ranging from pillow covers to plastic grocery bags.
The losses incurred by farmers and agriculturalists whose land has been devastated by the floods are also incalculable. Entire orchards, crops, barns and silos that have stood witness to five generations of farming families stand battered and broken.
The state government has pledged millions of dollars in disaster relief money to assist those affected by the floods; however economic recovery in the long-term is likely to be a slow and uncertain process.
Environmental Impact
The most alarming consequence of this flooding however is its environmental impact. The Mississippi River, famous for being the longest in North America, has been left with a significantly higher level of pollutants, petrochemicals and other toxins that have made the water a toxic soup for the fishermen and inhabitants living along the banks.
Various environmental organisations like the EPA have been monitoring the chemical levels in the water and have taken quick action to contain it. Also, studies conducted by some of these agencies suggest that the damages may go beyond just the present season, altering the entire eco-system of the river.
Mitigation Efforts
Various efforts to mitigate further damage have been initiated. Arrangements have been made to remove various types of chemical and hazardous waste from the region as well as for relocation of families belonging to sensitive areas. Several governing bodies have also agreed to increase the allotment of resources for replenishing compromised fibre-optic communication systems and other electronic components.
The state government has also implemented plans to reinforce the banks of Mississippi River through a number of initiatives that include enlisting help from the US Army Corps of Engineers, who in-turn will utilise the latest technology and tools to build bigger and stronger levees.
Volunteer Efforts
The entire world has come together to provide aid and assistance in the form of volunteers, skill-sets, financial contributions and other necessities like food, clothing, bedding and medical supplies. Assured by the unprecedented response and public goodwill being extended, several local charities in the region have come forward to create a united front called “Mississippi United”.
Various fundraising campaigns are being held in the region, to help offset the costs of the damage. The local population along with individuals and groups from across the world have come forth with both financial and moral support, in this time of need.
Economic Recovery
The Midwest region had been undergoing an economic boom fuelled by the agricultural and services industry. Several businesses had created numerous jobs, resulting in a large influx of population and businesses flocking to the region. This recent natural disaster, if not mitigated in time, could undo all of the economic progress made by the region in the past decade.
The government and several charitable organisations are joining hands to provide financial aid and guidance to the businesses whose operations have been halted due to the floods. Much of the aid will be provided in the form of loan restructuring, grants or tax aid and credits.
However, what is needed the most is rebuilding public faith and confidence in the region, in order to attract more businesses to set up shop and help kickstart the stalled economic momentum.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the current situation of the Mississippi River is far from ideal and more rains in the coming days could wreak further havoc and devastate the region even more. Despite the many efforts the local population, the state government and voluntary organisations are making, much still needs to be done in order to fully contain the crisis and help the affected citizens recover from this natural calamity.
