Mississipi River Could Crest in Hours at Menphis

Forecasters said the Mississippi River could crest late Monday at Memphis, Tenn. — hours sooner than previously predicted — but the mayor said his city is ready for it.

Memphis Mayor AC Wharton said lessons from past disasters have shown city officials the importance of going door-to-door to warn residents in flood-prone areas. He said patrols of neighborhoods also have been stepped up to prevent looting.

In the south, authorities in Louisiana accelerated preparations opening the floodgates in a spillway northwest of New Orleans to reduce pressure on dams in populated areas.

Forecaster Joe Lowery of the National Weather Service office in Memphis said it looked as though the river is starting to level out and could crest as soon as Monday night at or near 48 feet. Forecasters had previously predicted the crest would come Tuesday.

Source: Univision