MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it is officially in Phase II of flood fight efforts Wednesday.
WREG was there when Memphis Police put up yellow tape, closing down Greenbelt Park due to the rising river.
Despite the scary sights, Corps spokesperson George Stringham told WREG the people monitoring the conditions, “haven’t seen anything. It’s been nice and quiet, which is what we expected.”
The Corps’ patrols reported not seeing serious trouble spots.
Stringham told WREG the Corps made improvements after the 2011 flood, and they seem to be working.
When asked to explain what Phase II means, he said it’s when they take action.
“It’s when we actually have boots on the ground. We send our teams out to actually walk and drive the levees.”
That means they are checking things like flood walls and making sure relief wells are controlling seepage.
Despite the Corps monitoring everything, Mud Island resident Bonnie Dietzman said she believes the river is too close for comfort.
“My honest opinion, I’d be worried anyway,” she said.
The Mississippi River is expected to crest in Memphis Friday at 40.2 feet.
The river crested at 48.03 feet in 2011.
The Corps is patrolling each day from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and there is extra support at the Corps’ Emergency Operations Center too.
