Mississippi River Flood Threat Persists Despite Preparations

The Mississippi River is cresting to dangerous levels, causing flooding in communities along the upper Mississippi River due to the rapid melting of a giant snowpack in Minnesota. As of Friday morning, 32 gauged locations along the Mississippi River are in, or forecast to be in, a major flood stage across four states. The flooding is halting shipping along portions of the river for several weeks, forcing shipments of grain and fertilizer to be diverted to alternative shipping means, such as rail or automotive. The swelling river has also forced some to leave their homes in Wisconsin, while in Iowa, those who live along the river have been stockpiling sandbags, pumping out water or evacuating amid the rising waters.