Mississippi River Tests the Old River Control Structure - Historical Comparison

How much energy do you imagine is behind Mississippi River flows of 2 million cubic feet per second - sustained for three months?  The Army Corps of Engineers is confident that it is not enough to bring down the Old River Control Structure currently preventing the River from charting a new course down the Atchafalaya River valley (which, by the way, the Mississippi would prefer to do!).  Let's hope they are correct as more than just a river diversion structure is at risk if it does not.  I encourage you to take just a couple minutes to pour over this articulate summary from Weather Underground http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1801.

The graphics, history, and description of possible impacts are eye popping.  The graph in the article displayed the (now previous) 1973 record flood event by comparison and is a snapshot taken May 13, 2011.  The most current version will be found at the following link for you to observe http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/eng/edhd/lat.gif.  At the time of this post, the 1973 event had just been exceeded and was still climbing rapidly.

Source: US Army Corps of Engineers



Flooding Mississippi River - Blowing Up Levees and Returning Floodplains

This morning, the Mississippi River crested in Memphis, rising just shy of the all-time record height of 48.7 feet set during the great 1937 flood. The river, normally half a mile wide at Memphis, is now about three miles wide.  The only reason that this flood didn't set a new record was because the Army Corps of Engineers blasted levees and opened up two "floodways."  Find full articles via GOOD Magazine

Should We Follow the Dutch and Give Land Back to the Flooding Mississippi River?

The Project Flood Is Upon Us": Mississippi River Surge Is a 1-in-500 Year Event

The promotional video for "Room for the River" (english) or "ruimte voor de rivier" (dutch) is worth 3.5 minutes of your time just to see how social marketing for flood-related topics occurs in other parts of the world.  And if you want to see video of the levee being taken down for the Project Flood article from Wall Street Journal "Great Balls of Fire" News Hub.

Research Finds Drivers Crossing Flood Waters Are Using Rational Decision Making

University of Arizona Doctoral Student Ashley R. Coles’ research has found that while flooded roads are clearly marked with signs to indicate risk, drivers continue to cross and drive on them. Even the State’s ―Stupid Motorist Law‖ that fines drivers who cross flood barricades, is not a sufficient deterrent to stop risky behavior. Coles wanted to understand why people engaged in this behavior despite warning signs.

Her research found that while popular opinion was that drivers were irrational when choosing to drive on flooded roads, in fact they use a rational decision making process. Coles found that drivers were aware of and had a high degree of trust in flood warning signs, but were unclear if signs represented ―current‖ risk. Coles’ research also found that drivers relied on a variety of information sources to determine current risk including warning signs, actions of other drivers, perception of worsening weather conditions, presence of passengers in the vehicle, available alternate routes, and advice of friends or family.

Coles' research is significant in that it may help floodplain managers and emergency management personnel to better understand factors that contribute to risky behavior and decision making. Knowing what information sources influence actions, how can we as floodplain managers improve outreach and better communicate with citizens about risk?

Click here for more information about Ashley R. Coles research findings reported in the UA News, Flooded Washes: To Cross or Not to Cross?

Originally published in ASFPM Chapter Newsletter.