The flooding of the Mississippi, which already alerted Arkansas (south) - could surpass the record level registered in 1927.
LAKE PROVIDENCE - The Army Corps sappers on Saturday opened a spillway gate on the river Mississippi, Louisiana, pouring water in rural areas, to avoid a disaster potentially greater in densely populated areas downstream.
A gate in the Morganza spillway week rose for the first time in 38 years. The water flowed slowly at first, but then increased its flow to resemble a waterfall. Some
4.827 square kilometers (3 square miles) of land, which houses several farms and fish stocks would be flooded up to 7.5 meters (25 feet) of water.
However, Authorities say the decision will mitigate the pressures in the reservoirs that protect New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and several oil refineries and chemical plants downstream.
The sappers were concerned that the pressure built up for weeks will cause the reservoir yield, triggering a flood of up to six meters (20 feet) in New Orleans.
About 25 thousand people and 11 000 structures could be in danger. Shortly before the opening of the floodgates, marshals and National Guardsmen were making journeys from door to door to warn people of the expected flooding in the area. The shelters were ready to accept up to 4,800 evacuees, Gov. Bobby Jindal said.
flee to higher ground
Some people living in the threatened section of field-an area known for small farms, fishing and a pro-French dialect, began to flee from porimeras hours on Saturday to higher ground.
"Now is the time to evacuate," Jindal said. "Now is the time for our people to implement their plans. That water comes, "he added.
The opening of the spillway released a torrent that could submerge some 7.800 square kilometers (about 3 square miles) with floods of up to 7.6 meters (25 feet) deep in some areas.
protect New Orleans
The measure, however, will reduce the downstream pressure on the levees that protect New Orleans, Baton Rouge and numerous oil refineries and chemical plants located along the lower Mississippi .
"Protecting lives is the top priority," said Major General of the Army Corps of Engineers Michael Walsh at a news conference aboard a boat on the river near Vicksburg.
A few hours later, the body took the decision to open the dump key and flood thousands of homes and farms in the Cajun region to avoid potentially bigger disaster in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Historical Floods
On the eve officials began preparations to open the diversion channel of the Mississippi to reduce the level of the river and try to avoid the flooding of the delta cities.
The group of engineers from the U.S. Army said on Friday that if it was necessary to open this weekend diversion channel Morganza, Louisiana (south), to prevent the flooding of the Mississippi River reaches major cities of this state and regulate the flow of the river bottom, near the Gulf of Mexico.
"Baton Rouge and New Orleans (Louisiana, south) will be flooded if the canal is not opened," he told CNN retired Gen. Russell Honore, who headed military operations who braved Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The flood of the Mississippi, which already alerted Arkansas (south) - could surpass the record level registered in 1927.
Almost 18 meters high
The river level is expected to reach 17.5 meters in Vicksburg (Mississippi, South) on 19 May, more than the record of 17.1 m recorded 84 years ago, according to figures from U.S. national weather.
The channel opening Morhanza diversion would cause the flooding of thousands of hectares of farmland and small rural settlements, so it should be carried out emergency evacuations in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Flooding in the Midwest are the worst in more than 70 years. Destroyed thousands of homes, farms and roads in Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi.
devastation in poor areas
The Mississippi River flood waters entered on Wednesday in some of the poorest areas of the nation and flooded low of Memphis neighborhoods, but the containment barriers protected much of the rest.
During the last week in the Delta, the flood of the river and its tributaries has covered crops has forced many residents to evacuate their homes and closed some of the casinos on the coast that are vital to the state's economy.
However, the worst has not arrived yet. Water is expected to continue rising for several days. Memphis Damage is estimated at more than $ 320 million but no official figure until waters recede.
had no estimates of the devastation in the American South, but there are hundreds of houses damaged and it is anticipated that the water "will to levels never seen before, "said Greg Flynn, a spokesman for the emergency management agency in Mississippi.
Throughout the region, federal authorities have reviewed and reinforced the protective barriers. Frantic efforts
In northwest Mississippi, crews have used earth and sand to build a barrier on the edge of Bolivar, Coahoma County, said Charlie Tindall, attorney for the Board of mounds of the Mississippi. Gangs of prisoners have also placed sandbags, he said.
in Vicksburg, it was estimated that the river will reach its peak on Saturday to beat the record of the Great Flood of 1927.
forecast is grown in the Yazoo River, a tributary already saturated. Rolling Fork also was in danger of flooding.
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