Is the Mississippi River Flooded Now?
The flooding of the Mississippi River is a yearly occurrence, but with increasingly severe storms it is becoming more of an issue. The flooding of the river has caused billions of dollars in damage and cost lives. The endless flooding has been a cause of worry for inhabitants of the states situated on the banks of the Mississippi River, namely Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Iowa and other Midwestern states. For anyone living in this region, the question of whether or not the river is flooded remains at the top of their minds.
Due to recent heavy precipitation, parts of the Mississippi River continue to experience high water levels. In some areas the water has already risen higher than the flood stage. The Mississippi River experienced record high water levels in May of 2019, the highest level in over a decade. Yet, fortunately the Mississippi River only remains close to the flood stage in some areas, instead of hitting it.
The flooding of the Mississippi River is quite unpredictable. For instance, the flooding may remain above certain points for long periods of time, and a year later, return to its original level completely. The flood stage also depends on many different factors, such as the amount of rainfall, snow melts of freshwater, glacier melting and other aquatic elements. People near the Mississippi River must remain prepared and keep a track of the water level to keep an eye out for any sudden change.
Experts say that the increased flooding of the Mississippi River is greatly due to climate change. The temperature of the earth is slowly increasing each year, causing the poles of the Earth to melt by rising the level of the sea across the world, which in turn increases the risk of flooding for parts of the America living on river side.
In order to minimize these floods, scientists believe that even though individual actions can help in saving the planet, systematic approaches are still required, such as carbon taxes and creating water reservoirs along the Mississippi and other major rivers in the US.
A major issue that needs to be addressed is the lack of public awareness regarding the causes and prevention of these floods. Many simply look at the flooding as an unavoidable phenomenon, and action is rarely taken to reduce their impact. Without the implementation and defense of the policies put forward by leading organizations, the United States must be ready to face harsher and more unpredictable floods in the near future.
Impact on Human Lives
The Mississippi River flooding takes its toll on human lives as well as the environment. Due to the flooding of crops, people typically lose their source of income and are unable to receive aid from the government. Apart from the destruction of homes and property damage, people also face risks of health issues due to the contaminated water. The water becomes polluted by runoff from fields, which further allow diseases to spread.
Flooding of the Mississippi not only affects people financially, but can also cause emotional trauma. Over the years, the continual destruction of homes and lives can be especially devastating to victims. Many have to put most of their belongings if not all, on the roadside just to watch them get washed away with the floods.
In communities that live along the banks of the Mississippi, mental health resources have become limited, leaving the victims in a state of helplessness. People often feel discouraged due to their losses and the barriers they face while trying to rebuild.
On the other hand, there have been reports of individuals and relief organizations that help people in flooded areas. A lot of local aid is also available to victims in terms of material, emotional, or financial assistance. People are encouraged to take up the initiative of assisting others in order to reduce the suffering of those trapped in the middle of the flooding.
Economic Factors
The Mississippi River flooding not only affects human lives, but also the whole economy in the affected areas. It causes severe economic losses due to the destruction of infrastructure and repeated infrastructural costs. For example, the bridges and petrochemical plants built exceed the flood control standard, so it means high costs for maintaining them.
Aside from the direct economic costs, an area may suffer from long-term disruption of production. During the floods, vital economic activities such as agriculture experience forced closure. This can be particularly devastating for business owners and farmers, whose livelihoods depend on a stable economic environment.
In addition to economic losses, flooding of the Mississippi River also affects drinking water supplies. The water gets contaminated with sediment and pollutants during the floods. Toxins from the industry can also be found in the river. The health risks associated with contamination of drinking water can incur additional financial costs.
Lastly, food security is at risk during flooding. Inhabitants of the affected regions require fresh food supplies. But since the floods often cause disruption of production, it can be impossible to secure enough food for everyone. This leads to higher food prices and decreased availability.
Environmental Impact
Uncontrolled floods can lead to severe damage to the environment. For example, the soil may be damaged due to the erosion caused by floods, which can in turn lead to soil fertility and yield losses for farm produce.
Floods can also disrupt the food chain, by killing aquatic life such as fish, frogs, and other aquatic animals that cannot survive the flood. In addition, there are also risks of pesticides and other chemical pollutants travelling downstream and contaminating the ocean.
The disruption of the environment can also cause problems beyond the Mississippi. For example, the water from flooding can travel down the Mississippi and into the Gulf of Mexico, where the influx of fresh water can create an ‘Oxygen-deficient Dead Zone’. This zone causes a decrease in the abundance of fishes and other marine life, which can have a devastating effect on the economy of the affected areas.
Finally, the Mississippi floodwaters also carry sediment downstream. This sediment can cause flooding in other parts of the country, and create hazards to navigation such as sand bars, gravel bars and other obstacles.
Mitigation Measures
Thefirst step for mitigation of the Mississippi River flooding should be a comprehensive study of the complex nature and extent of the flood’s impacts. Through this, the vulnerability of certain areas and the associated solutions needed will be identified. There are also some steps that communities living in the affected areas can take themselves in order to mitigate the flooding.
One of the key measures to reduce the risk of flooding is to establish small-scale flood protection zones. This will reduce the impact of floodwaters by providing natural barriers. Other solutions include diversifying the land use in the affected areas and encouraging planting of water-tolerant plants.
A more sustainable approach to mitigating the flooding is to increase public awareness on the issue. Education and awareness programs can be implemented in the affected areas to educate the population about the dangers of floods and about the solutions available.
In addition, governments should implement regulations that encourage property owners to build in ways that are resilient to floodwaters. This includes building homes made from materials that can survive a flood, and incorporating proper drainage systems.
Finally, governments should also invest resources in improving flood control structures. This includes creating dams and levees that can reduce the impacts of flooding. Proper maintenance and upgrades to these structures are critical for ensuring that they remain functional in times of need.
Conclusion
The ever-rising flooding of the Mississippi River has been a constant worry for inhabitants of the affected states. Despite the unpredictable nature of the floods, the urgency to mitigate the damage due to these floods cannot be understated. There are a range of solutions both at the individual and governmental level that must be adopted in order to reduce the risk of severe floods in affected areas. Without the implementation of these strategies, the consequences of floods in the region could be disastrous.
