MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Mississippi River is continuing to rise, and water is now starting to reach some homes in the Harbor Town neighborhood on Mud Island, according to the Shelby County Office of Preparedness.
The river is expected to reach the flood stage level of 34 feet Saturday night.
The boat ramps on Mud Island and at Shelby Forest are already underwater. Water is also close to DeWitt Spain Airport.
ExxonMobil temporarily closed its Memphis terminal, which is located along the Mississippi River.
“We personally visited flood-prone areas today,” said Dale Lane, the director of the Shelby County Office of Preparedness. “We noted water is near some homes and apartments on Marina Cottage Drive that border the Wolf River Marina. As a precaution, City of Memphis firefighters will go door-to-door to notify residents about the high water threat.”
Other high-water areas are:
- Big Creek at Highway 51, Fite Road and Woodstock-Cuba
- Loosahatchie River at Highway 51 and Watkins
- Wolf River near Hollywood, the north leg of Interstate 240, and at Rodney Baber Park along James Road
- Nonconnah Creek near Presidents Island
On Monday, the City of Memphis will barricade Second Street from Whitney and Mud Island Drive and the access road to the Stiles Water Treatment Plant.
See which Shelby County zip codes could be affected by floods here.
The Mississippi is expected to crest at 41 feet on Jan. 8. This is about seven feet lower than it was in the damaging 2011 floods.