Impacts of the Mississippi River Flooding in 2017
The state of Mississippi is home to one of the most powerful and legendary rivers in the United States, the Mississippi River. Every year, the Mississippi River floods to an extent that is considered normal. But in 2017, the flooding was much worse than usual, wreaking havoc on the communities that lay along its length. In this article, we will explore the impacts of the Mississippi River flooding in 2017 and how it affected the state of Mississippi.
In late February and early March 2017, the Mississippi River swelled to historic levels, witnessing the worst flooding it had seen in decades. The flooding continued all the way into May, when some parts of the Mississippi Delta region were still underwater. The floods had their worst effects on communities close to major rivers such as the Yazoo, the Pearl, and the Big Black.
The flooding caused millions of dollars in damage to the communities along the Mississippi River. Homes, businesses, and farms were inundated with floodwaters, resulting in displacement of residents and massive loss of livelihoods. According to the National Weather Service, more than 20,000 homes were destroyed and over 1.13 million acres of farmland were damaged in the flooding. Estimates state that the total damages due to the Mississippi River flooding in 2017 amount to around $2.5 billion.
The flooding also wreaked environmental havoc. The waters of the Mississippi River are famous for their mud- and silt-laden contents, which are known to be highly fertile and beneficial for farmers. The flooding pushed much of the fertile sediment onto neighborhoods, homes and farms, and most of it was washed away. This caused significant loss of topsoil and increased the risk of soil erosion.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers took several steps to mitigate the effects of the flooding. Immediately after the flooding began, the Army Corps of Engineers controlled the flow of water by increasing the flow of water in other areas of the Mississippi, such as the Atchafalaya River. The teams in the Mississippi also constructed 25 levees to help control the floodwater. In addition, they also used sandbags and pumps to reduce the impacts of flooding in some of the hardest-hit areas. These actions had a positive effect, and ultimately helped to prevent the flooding from becoming even more catastrophic.
The effects of the Mississippi River flooding in 2017 were felt by millions of residents and caused widespread destruction. The residents of Mississippi are still feeling the effects of the disaster today, with many of them still recovering from the losses of their homes, businesses and livelihoods.
Effects on the Environment
The Mississippi River flooding in 2017 also had long-lasting environmental impacts on the Mississippi Delta. The rains and flooding in the region caused substantial soil erosion, with the mud- and silt-laden waters washing away large amounts of topsoil. This had a detrimental effect on the regional agricultural industry, as the loss of topsoil threatened to greatly disrupt farming in the region.
Moreover, the flooding also caused substantial degradation to the local ecosystems, as the turbid waters of the Mississippi River caused many species to flee the area or perish in the floodwaters. The flooding also destroyed large swaths of wetlands, which had been host to many species of birds, fish and other organisms. In addition, the turbid waters caused by the flooding caused abnormally high levels of algae blooms in the river, which was yet another environmental hazard.
The flooding also contaminated the water supply of local communities, as the chemicals and pollutants present in the floodwaters were washed away into local water sources. The pollution of the water supply posed risks of contamination to both humans and animals. The water supply also posed considerable risks to the health of local residents, as the pollutants present in the floodwaters posed risks of diseases.
In addition, the flooding also negatively impacted the local economy. With the extensive damage to homes, businesses, and farms throughout the Mississippi Delta, the flooding had a devastating effect on the local economy. Many businesses were forced to close, while many residents lost their homes and their livelihoods.
Long-Term Effects of the Flooding
The effects of the 2017 Mississippi River flooding are still being felt to this day. Even though the waters have mostly receded, the long-term effects and the destruction it caused remain. The flooding affected local communities in a variety of ways, from destroying homes and businesses to contaminating the water supply to eroding away topsoil.
The damage to the local economy was immense and recovery will take a long time. Many businesses have been forced to close, and thousands of people have lost their jobs and their homes. In addition, the environmental damage caused by the flooding will take a long time to recover from, as many species have been lost and much of the local ecosystem has been destroyed.
The state of Mississippi has been able to slowly begin the recovery process, with the help of the federal and state governments. Recovery efforts have been focused on rebuilding homes and businesses, restoring the water supply, and restoring the local environment. However, the long-term effects of the flooding will remain for some time, and the recovery process will take many years.
Preventative Measures
In order to reduce the risks of similar disasters in the future, the state of Mississippi has adopted a variety of preventative measures. One of the most important of these measures has been the implementation of a series of levees throughout the Mississippi Delta. These levees have been designed to hold back the waters of the Mississippi during major floods, thereby reducing the amount of flooding in the region.
In addition, the state of Mississippi has also implemented a number of agricultural practices that are designed to reduce the risk of flooding. These practices include reducing the number of tilled agricultural fields, planting more trees, and utilizing conservation tillage practices. These practices are designed to help control the runoff of water and reduce the impacts of flooding in the region.
The state of Mississippi has also adopted a number of other measures to help mitigate the effects of flooding. After the flooding in 2017, the state took a number of steps to improve the flood management system, including strengthening the levees, improving drainage systems, and constructing more dams to control the flow of water in the region.
Conclusion
The 2017 Mississippi River flooding was one of the worst natural disasters in the state’s history. The flooding caused immense destruction to the communities along the Mississippi, wreaking havoc on homes, businesses, and farms. The state has taken steps to mitigate the impacts of future floods, but the long-term effects of the flooding will remain for many years.
