Officials earlier predicted the Pearl River would reach 36 feet and crest by Tuesday after the rains experienced in recent days, but the river is now expected to crest late Sunday into Monday night before slowly receding. A flood stage is considered “major” at 26 feet. The current flood warning says dozens of additional streets in downtown Jackson will flood at 34 feet, with water close to entering homes in Northeast Jackson at 35.8 feet. “We expect the waters to start affecting neighborhoods from Sunday afternoon,” Lumumba said, adding that up to 150 homes were expected to be affected by the floods. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency Saturday because of the rising river and urged residents to stay calm. The state has already begun assessing water levels along the river using drones and has deployed more than 100,000 sandbags, according to the statement. “The state of Mississippi is as prepared as possible for this flood,” Reeves said. “My administration, including the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, is monitoring this situation closely and is actively working to respond as quickly as possible to the ongoing flood developments.” It wouldn’t be the first time the river reached such a high level. Several neighborhoods in northeast and central Jackson flooded, and the Pearl River reached its third-highest crest on record at 36.7 feet during a major flood in February 2020. Authorities are warning that communities affected by flooding in 2020 face a high chance of being hit again. “Residents in these affected areas should be ready to leave within 48 hours,” Lumumba said on Saturday. The mayor warned residents that floodwaters could remain on the ground for several days and residents should be prepared to be out of their homes for up to two weeks. A flood warning remains in effect for parts of Mississippi, including Jackson around the Pearl River, until further notice, the National Weather Service said. In Ridgeland, Mississippi, just north of Jackson, residents forced out by the 2020 floods found themselves packing again. “Hopefully it doesn’t go bad. That’s all we’re praying for,” Ridgeland resident Crystal Ferguson told CNN affiliate WAPT. She said her family ended up staying in a hotel for five days during the 2020 flood.
Mayor: Don’t put yourself in danger
This week, a slow-moving weather system drenched parts of the South, causing flooding in Mississippi that forced evacuations, washed out roads, derailed a train, washed into homes and prompted multiple rescues. On Saturday morning, after heavy rains, the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District increased the discharge from Barnett Reservoir to 60,000 cubic feet per second, a move the district warned would put water on Jackson streets. “Water will be on several streets in Jackson and could begin to reach some homes and businesses,” water district officials said in a news release Saturday morning. “It is likely that the discharge will increase again in the next 24 hours, which could result in water entering homes.” The threat of flooding will be limited to localized areas Sunday as slow-moving storms shift through the day, according to CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam. Scattered thunderstorms could produce an additional 1-2 inches of rain by Sunday night, mostly south of Interstate 20. Hot and humid conditions will persist, with highs in the mid to upper 80s. The mayor of Jackson urged residents to stay away from flooded areas. “We don’t need tourists and we don’t need you putting yourself or those helping rescue efforts at risk,” Lumumba said.
