Mississippi River Flooding Forces Evacuations

Major flooding of the Mississippi River and other waterways has prompted authorities in several U.S. states to order residents to evacuate, as water washed over roads and flooded homes.
President Barack Obama declared an emergency this week in parts of Tennessee and Mississippi because of the flooding, triggered by heavy rains and melting snow. He also declared an emergency in Kentucky following severe storms,rift gold tornadoes and flooding that began late last month. The White House says the move authorizes federal agencies to coordinate disaster relief efforts.
The floods also caused officials to close roads, including parts of a major highway in Arkansas. Flooding is also affecting the states of North and South Dakota, Louisiana and Missouri.
Officials say the waters could hit some areas trying to recover from a wave of deadly tornadoes last month.
The high levels are already reaching or surpassing records in place since the 1930s. The Mississippi River is expected to rise near the city of Memphis, Tennessee to more than 14 meters in the coming days.
In Missouri,rift gold the Army Corps of Engineers blew holes in a levee to relieve pressure on it.
One of the longest rivers in North America, the Mississippi runs south from the northern state of Minnesota all the way to New Orleans, Louisiana and into the Gulf of Mexico.