A tropical storm moving along Mexico’s eastern coast could end up worsening flooding in affected areas of Yazoo County or at least prolonging the misery.
Jack Willingham, Yazoo County’s Emergency Management director, said forecasters are monitoring the storm, which could turn northeast over the next few days and bring rain into the region.
Willingham said the forecast calls for over two inches of rain, and that would cause big problems.
He said much work has been done to protect the parts of Holly Bluff that are not already flooded.
“All of the houses that are on slabs have been sandbagged, and the church has been sandbagged,” he said. “The bank and the Post Office haven’t been sandbagged yet. They are going to make the decision whether or not it needs to be done. I have another 2,500 bags on the ground ready to go, and it probably wouldn’t hurt to get another load of sand out there in case we need it.”
Board President Cobie Collins asked Willingham if the recent opening of the Morganza Spillway in Louisiana will help relieve flooding in Yazoo County. Willingham said it is not likely to have any effect on local flooding.
“It’s not going to help anything north of Natchez,” Willingham said.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers delayed the expected opening of the Morganza Spillway for a second time on Monday due to breaches in the levee system along the Arkansas River. The water escaping through those breaches and overtopping the levees in some areas is slowing the rise of the Arkansas River, which flows into the Mississippi.
