By Randy Economy
www.Economy4ABC.Blogspot.com
Monday, May 9, 2011
1:41 p.m.
MEMPHIS -
What a massive mess. Call it the worst flooding in more than 60 years. Today, the people of Memphis are up to their necks in water. It is beyond comprehension just how much water is now over flowing most of this iconic Southern enclave.
Forecasters have expanded the likely flood areas of tributaries based on a model of the Mississippi River cresting at 52 feet. Holy smoke. I live in Southern California, as most of my regular readers know, and I can't grasp what it must be like to witness a flood of this proportion.
Officials announced today that they still predict the river to crest Tuesday at 48 feet, but emergency officials want to stay on the high side of caution ahead of the river, just in case, Bob Nations, director of the Shelby County Office of Preparedness said at a briefing this morning.
Citizens are encouraged to study the new maps and look at alternative driving routes as tributaries overflow. Emergency officials altered flood maps Sunday night to show areas that could flood at the 52-foot mark.
At the Memphis gauge, the river is at 47.7 feet. The Beale Street gauge is at 50.4 feet.
“There are always those little surprises, those little snake bites so the earlier we can identify them the better," Nations said. Excuse me. Snake bites? WTH?
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Jr. must be in panic mode today. Hang in there Mr. Mayor, America is here to help!
Across the board, city divisions are on an all out "tactical alert" today and Tuesday....and for probably the remainder of this week. As the flood waters rise, both from the Mississippi and other local Memphis rivers, the city is now working in close connection with other agencies such as the Port Authority and the Airport Authority. Here are some of the latest efforts:
www.Economy4ABC.Blogspot.com
Monday, May 9, 2011
1:41 p.m.
MEMPHIS -
What a massive mess. Call it the worst flooding in more than 60 years. Today, the people of Memphis are up to their necks in water. It is beyond comprehension just how much water is now over flowing most of this iconic Southern enclave.
Forecasters have expanded the likely flood areas of tributaries based on a model of the Mississippi River cresting at 52 feet. Holy smoke. I live in Southern California, as most of my regular readers know, and I can't grasp what it must be like to witness a flood of this proportion.
Officials announced today that they still predict the river to crest Tuesday at 48 feet, but emergency officials want to stay on the high side of caution ahead of the river, just in case, Bob Nations, director of the Shelby County Office of Preparedness said at a briefing this morning.
Citizens are encouraged to study the new maps and look at alternative driving routes as tributaries overflow. Emergency officials altered flood maps Sunday night to show areas that could flood at the 52-foot mark.
At the Memphis gauge, the river is at 47.7 feet. The Beale Street gauge is at 50.4 feet.
“There are always those little surprises, those little snake bites so the earlier we can identify them the better," Nations said. Excuse me. Snake bites? WTH?
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Jr. must be in panic mode today. Hang in there Mr. Mayor, America is here to help!
Across the board, city divisions are on an all out "tactical alert" today and Tuesday....and for probably the remainder of this week. As the flood waters rise, both from the Mississippi and other local Memphis rivers, the city is now working in close connection with other agencies such as the Port Authority and the Airport Authority. Here are some of the latest efforts:
- The Division of Public Works has installed and supported 16 of the 30 flood gates that are part of the flood wall designed to provide protection, along with the levee system, to the City. The most obvious section of the flood wall is the area behind the Pyramid where a total of four separate flood gates have been installed and supported with plastic, plywood, and sandbags.
- More than 100 Public Works employees - along with 25 volunteers - are filling approximately 50,000 sandbags to support the other 12 flood gates that are being installed based on the current forecast. Public Works hopes to have this accomplished by late Saturday afternoon.
- Drain Maintenance crews are also busy inspecting and servicing the storm drain inlets and drainage systems in areas that are prone to flooding.
- Public Works have installed gates at three of the five major Pumping Stations and placed the pumps in services to mitigate flooding throughout the City. The Stations that are currently in service include Gayoso, Nonconnah, Cypress Creek, and Ensley. The plan is to put the Marble Station in service this weekend to begin pumping there, as well.
- The city's two wastewater treatment plans are designed to handle 400 million gallons of wastewater a day. If the system takes on more water than it can handle, there will be unavoidable overflows in the sewer system in some areas.
- Public Works has drafted a letter to the Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation (TDEC), notifying them of anticipated sanitary system overflows. The belief that the City will bypass the treatment process and release untreated water into the Mississippi River is not an option, considering the expected height of that river. Backflow would essentially occur instead.
- General Services removed transformers were from Tom Lee Park Thursday, April 28th, with the help of MLGW and the Division of Parks.
- Real Estate has been working with MPD and MFD to relocate the training facilities on O.K. Robinson Road, and General Services is monitoring all city facilities in low lying areas.
- Prior to flooding conditions, the Memphis Fire Department is identifying vulnerable fire stations and facilities, preparing a firefighter "callback" strategy to supplement staffing, having planning and evacuation discussions with mobile home park managers, apartment managers, and facilities managers in areas where flooding is imminent, assisting EOC operations, and developing alternative response routes.
- During flooding conditions, the fire department will be prioritizing calls, initiating the callback strategy as necessary, doing rescue and recovery, and assisting the EOC operations.
- In preparation for the upcoming Mississippi River flooding MLGW has made sure that its drinking water system will not be negatively impacted. Jerry Collins of MLGW remarked, "The drinking water system is expected to perform in its normal manner, providing some of the best drinking water in the world."
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