VICKSBURG, Miss. — The Mississippi crest rolled past Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday, going easy on much of the city, yet downriver in the mostly poor, fertile Delta region, floodwaters washed away crops, damaged hundreds of homes and closed casinos key to the state’s economy.
In Vicksburg, home of a pivotal Civil War battle, the river was forecast to peak slightly above the record level set during the flood of 1927. Some places were already several feet underwater, and the river wasn’t expected to peak here until Saturday.
Wearing rubber boots and watching fish swim up and down his street, William Jefferson stood on a high spot in his neighborhood. He said he hasn’t had a hot meal since water started coming into his house a few days ago.
Now, it’s inundated with at least 3 feet of water, as are dozens of other homes in the neighborhood. Nearby, his brother Milton cast a fishing rod.
“At least we can catch something fresh to eat, because we ain’t got no icebox or electricity,” he said with a smile. Then the pair playfully debated about whether they would actually eat anything caught in the filthy floodwaters. “If you eat a fish right now, you won’t live to see the water go down,” William Jefferson said.
Nearly 600 households had suffered water damage, said Greg Flynn of the state emergency management agency.
Widespread flooding was expected along the Yazoo River, a tributary joining the Mississippi and backed up because of the bulging Mississippi. Farmers built homemade levees in an attempt to protect their corn, cotton, wheat and soybean, but many thought the crops would be lost entirely.
The Mississippi crested in Memphis at nearly 48 feet Tuesday, falling short of its all-time record but still soaking low-lying areas with enough water to require a massive cleanup. Homes had polluted floodwater near the top of the first floor in some areas; others were completely submerged.
Snakes and other creatures infested the foul waters, and officials warned of unseen bacteria.
The state’s key gambling industry was taking a hit, too. All of the 19 casinos along the river were to be shuttered entirely by the end of the week, costing governments about $12 million to $13 million in taxes per month. That tally doesn’t count local sales taxes charged on such services as the 6,700-plus casino hotel rooms and the temporary loss of income for 13,000 employees, according to the Mississippi Gaming Commission.
