Mississippi Floods
The Mississippi River is home to one of the world’s most destructive floods in history. In 1927, during the Great Flood, it ran backwards for a short period of time. This event had disastrous consequences for the south-east of the United States.
The author of “The Great Flood of 1927”, Robert Yanosey, explains: “In April 1927 the Mississippi River in the lower United States reached the highest level ever seen…Excess water from the snow and spring rains had flooded the river and its tributaries along its entire length, from Iowa to the Gulf of Mexico.”
The event caused an immense amount of suffering in the form of fatalities, drought, homelessness and displacement of people, and a massive strain on the agricultural system in the region. Countless families lost their homes, valuable possessions, and in some cases, even their lives in addition to agricultural and livestock losses.
When the River Ran Backwards
On April 28th 1927, the Mississippi River ran backwards, or surged against its normal flow. According to one study, the “apparent reversal” of the river’s flow could be due to the fact that during a flood, water rushes towards low-lying land and its drainage channels, as opposed to its usual flow downstream.
The strange event of the Mississippi River running backwards had been noticed for several weeks before it officially caused an alarm. The general consensus was disbelief at the prospect of the river reversing its flow. Some thought it was due to an error in measurements.
However, a report from the engineering department of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers noted that “a reversal of the current should be expected to occur on certain occasions, as in fact occurred near New Orleans on April 28, 1927.” The report also confirmed that the reversal of the river during the Great Flood of 1927 was caused by the same phenomenon that causes tidal waves.
Consequences
The upstream ramifications of the reversal were heavier than downstream. People living nearby were mostly affected by the flooding, with reports of excessive water even entering homes and businesses along the banks. After the river finally calmed down, its water level surged higher, as the flow didn’t have time to dry out downstream. The flooding caused catastrophic losses to many people’s properties.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimated that more than 500,000 people were displaced during the flood. Downstream towns deteriorated as well, but the death toll and displacement didn’t reach the levels of upstream communities. In Louisiana, approximately 200,000 African Americans lost their homes, with many of them being sent to the concentration camps of Plaquemines and Angola to weather the floodwaters.
Negative Effects on Economy
The 1927 flood had a lasting economic impact on the south-east of the United States. Local economies were ruined as businesses such as plantations, factories, as well as mom-and-pop shops, were washed away by the surging river. This resulted in an economic crisis that was one of the major factors that caused the Great Depression.
The affected states had to start their recovery process all over again and the entire Mississippi River basin was heavily affected. The flood area was said to be over 50,000 square miles, an area larger than some states and much of it stayed under water for weeks.
Solutions Taken
Shortly after the Great Flood of 1927, the U.S. Congress passed the Flood Control Act of 1928. This act established a plan to control the waters of the Mississippi River. The plan included a system of levees and dams to keep the water from flooding and damaging homes and businesses in the future.
The project was eventually completed in 1936 and it was one of the most expensive engineering projects to ever be undertaken by the United States government. It was also one of the most successful, as it successfully prevented the recurrence of a disaster of that magnitude ever since.
Sixty Years On
Sixty years on, researchers are still capable of predicting when the Mississippi may go out of control. Scientific advances, new technologies and better methods of observation now mean that millions of people who live in the area of the Mississippi River have more warning of potential floods and are prepared to act in time.
The lessons learned from the Great Flood of 1927 have been invaluable in allowing society to be prepared for such natural disasters. The effects of the flood still linger in some parts of the United States in the form of physical and mental scars, but for many, the resilience gained from the experience has been unparalleled.
Retrospect
Since the Mississippi’s flood of 1927, there have been numerous other floods in the Mississippi River Basin. The floods of 1993 were classified as the worst floods of the 20th century and caused a major loss of life and large-scale damages in the form of lost property, personal belongings and even entire villages being destroyed.
However, the vast public works project initiated in the 1930s has offered some security to local communities living near the Mississippi River in the form of reservoirs, levees, and navigational measures that have increased safety since the Great Flood of 1927.
Environmental Impact
Despite the successes of the public work projects in curbing the effects of periodic flooding along the Mississippi, scientists and environmentalists warn of the negative impact human-made structures have had on the environment. These structures have disrupted wildlife habitats, destroyed valuable wetlands and contributed to an increase in pollution levels in the river.
In addition, these structures are also impacting local communities in terms of increased costs for waterway maintenance and increased flash flooding due to the increased pressure from the dams and other structures. Furthermore, the rise in water levels due to the man-made structures has been linked to the development of new ecosystems and the displacement of native species.
Health Risks
The environmental impact of the human-made structures has also had an effect on public health. The rising water levels have created stagnant water, which can increase the risk of waterborne illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.
In addition, the rising water levels and flooding has caused an increase in the population of mosquitoes, which can transmit diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. Finally, floods can also cause an increase in bacterial mutations that can lead to increased antibiotic resistance.
Conclusion
The Great Flood of 1927 was one of the most devastating floods in history and the consequences of the Mississippi’s reversal remain to this day. Although the infrastructure put in place since then has reduced the risks of future floods, there are still potential risks associated with man-made structures and the potential for a disastrous event.
Therefore, it is important for researchers and authorities to continue to monitor the river, both for the safety of local communities and the health of the environment.
