MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported Friday that the current Mississippi River flood is the ninth worst in Memphis.
Still, that means it is nearly 8.5 feet less than the 2011 flood.
The river crested Friday around 39.6 feet, but that does not mean the work is over for the Corps.
Survey Tech Danny Hunt welcomed WREG aboard one of the Corps’ boats as he mapped out the bottom of the Mississippi Friday.
“You’ll have damage somewhere,” he said.
Hunt said all this extra water flowing in the Mississippi can damage banks and levees.
He told WREG things shift around under the water, which could create problems for boats trying to pass through.
However, their biggest concern right now isn’t below the water.
“The only problem you have here now is the bridge clearances. Some of the boats wouldn’t be able to clear under the bridges, because the water’s so high.”
So, it is his job to measure just how deep the water is.
Riding in the boat near Beale Street Landing, Hunt’s equipment measured a depth of about 60 feet.
The Corps chalked up the lack of flood damage in Memphis to years and years of improvements.
“We are not seeing that kind of flooding here as opposed to what was up in St. Louis, and the difference is the Mississippi Rivers and tributaries system,” said Memphis District Commander Jeff Anderson.
Still, the work on and around the water continues.
The Corps said it will continue its flood fighting efforts while the flood water passes through the Memphis area.
