MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Mississippi River is leveling off with emergency crews saying their week of preparing paid off.
So far, Memphis is being spared any serious damage, but that doesn’t mean the risks aren’t there.
Thursday’s rain caused slippery roads, and in Downtown, North Memphis and on Mud Island, flood waters came close to the road.
It was a dangerous combination.
Rescue crews packed the off ramp on I-40 at the Hollywood exit.
A car apparently ran off the road and into flood water.
The car was submerged as crews spent the evening wedging it out.
Police said the driver got out, but left the scene before they could talk to him.
Across Downtown, Mud Island and in North Memphis, flood water line many roads causing concern.
“We just pray it’s not going to come in here,” said one North Memphis business owner.
The good news: it looks like we dodged a bullet.
The river is now leveling off without causing any serious problems.
Maybe that’s because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was in Memphis.
They said they learned from their mistakes after the 2011 flood.
This time they fixed the flood walls, closed gates, inspected levees daily and patrolled the river.
The county and city said they were prepared too.
They teamed up, went door to door and then concentrated on the problem spots.
It will take several days for the river to go back to normal.