La. floodgate opens, diverting Mississippi River

Wiki Commons Photo

Associated Press

MORGANZA, La. – A steel, 10-ton floodgate was slowly raised Saturday for the first time in nearly four decades, unleashing a torrent of water from the Mississippi River, away from heavily populated areas downstream.

The water spit out slowly at first, then began gushing like a waterfall as it headed to swamp as much as 3,000 square miles of Cajun countryside known for small farms and fish camps. Some places could wind up under as much as 25 feet of water.

Opening the Morganza spillway diverts water away from Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and the numerous oil refineries and chemical plants along the lower reaches of the Mississippi.

La. readies to open spillway, flood Cajun country

Mary Foster and Holbrook Mohr 
Associated Press 

LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. (AP) -- Army engineers prepared Saturday to slowly open the gates of an emergency spillway along the rising Mississippi River, diverting floodwaters from Baton Rouge and New Orleans, yet inundating homes and farms in parts of Louisiana's populated Cajun country.

About 25,000 people and 11,000 structures could be in harm's way when the Morganza spillway is unlocked for the first time in 38 years. Sheriffs and National Guardsmen were warning people in a door-to-door sweep through the area, and shelters were ready to accept up to 4,800 evacuees, Gov. Bobby Jindal said.

Some people living in the threatened stretch of countryside - an area known for small farms, fish camps and a drawling French dialect - have already started fleeing for higher ground.

"Now's the time to evacuate," Jindal said. "Now's the time for our people to execute their plans. That water's coming."

Opening the spillway will release a torrent that could submerge about 3,000 square miles under as much as 25 feet of water in some areas but take the pressure off the downstream levees protecting New Orleans, Baton Rouge and the numerous oil refineries and chemical plants along the lower reaches of the Mississippi.

Largest Earthquake Drill In America History Begins Along New Madrid Fault

Alex Thomas
The Intel Hub

In what has been labeled the largest earthquake drill in American history, the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut began today across 11 states.

3 million people will participate in a series of earthquake drills aimed at preparing for a large scale earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone.

This comes as many in the alternative media believe that a major earthquake along this zone is imminent and will possibly bring about a martial law type scenario in America.

“This week, nearly 3 million people across 11 states are gearing up for the Great Central U.S. Shakeout, a massive earthquake drill to commemorate the 200th anniversary later this year of a series of powerful earthquakes that downed trees and sent waves on the Mississippi River roaring over its banks,” reported MSNBC.