Slideshows

Scenes From The 2011 Floods

Scenes From The Flood

The ongoing flood situation along the Mississippi River threatens hundreds of thousands of square miles, including the Louisiana cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge.Many low-lying areas surrounding the Mississippi River have already been affected, including floods in the area, which experienced record flood levels. With the opening of the Morganza Spillway, evacuations have been taking place in the area as the region braces for the oncoming floodwaters. Opening the spillway is expected to affe
Photo: Getty Images

The ongoing flood situation along the Mississippi River threatens hundreds of thousands of square miles, including the Louisiana cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Many low-lying areas surrounding the Mississippi River have already been affected, after record flood levels have been reached. With the opening of the Morganza Spillway, evacuations have been taking place in the area as the region braces for the oncoming floodwaters. Opening the spillway is expected to affect more than 25,000 people in an area of the country that is economically important to the country as a whole.

The floods are a result of heavy rains, which have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have already caused widespread flooding in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Click ahead for scenes from the flooding from the affected areas.

Updated 16 May 2011

Louisiana Flooding

A worker looks over damage along a failing levee constructed around the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center May 16, 2011 in Vidalia, Louisiana. Heavy spring rains left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas. On May 14 the Army Corps of Engineers opened the Morganza spillway in Louisiana to divert water from the rising Mississippi River down the Atchafalaya River and away from
Photo: Getty Images

A worker looks over damage along a failing levee constructed around the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center May 16, 2011 in Vidalia, Louisiana. Heavy spring rains left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

On May 14 the Army Corps of Engineers opened the Morganza spillway in Louisiana to divert water from the rising Mississippi River down the Atchafalaya River and away from the cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Flood Levee

Dennis Barkemeyer inspects a levee constructed around a medical center to hold back floodwater from the Mississippi River May 16, 2011 in Vidalia, Louisiana.
Photo: Getty Images

Dennis Barkemeyer inspects a levee constructed around a medical center to hold back floodwater from the Mississippi River May 16, 2011 in Vidalia, Louisiana.

The Morganza Spillway

Water is released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Morganza Spillway May 14, 2011 in Morganza, Louisiana. The opening of the floodgates for the first time in nearly forty years is intended to lower the crest of the flooding Mississippi River at Baton Rouge and downriver to New Orleans.
Photo: Getty Images

Water is released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Morganza Spillway May 14, 2011 in Morganza, Louisiana. The opening of the floodgates for the first time in nearly forty years is intended to lower the crest of the flooding Mississippi River at Baton Rouge and downriver to New Orleans.

Morganza Spillway Floodgates

Water is released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Morganza Spillway May 14, 2011 in Morganza, Louisiana.
Photo: Getty Images

Water is released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Morganza Spillway May 14, 2011 in Morganza, Louisiana.

Flood Preparations

Raymond Prejean helps board up windows on his sister's home to help limit flood damage from the rising Atchafalaya River May 14, 2011 in Butte LaRose, Louisiana. The small town of Butte LaRose is expected to be severely flooded as a result of the Army Corps of Engineers opening the Morganza spillway.
Photo: Getty Images

Raymond Prejean helps board up windows on his sister's home to help limit flood damage from the rising Atchafalaya River May 14, 2011 in Butte LaRose, Louisiana. The small town of Butte LaRose is expected to be severely flooded as a result of the Army Corps of Engineers opening the Morganza spillway.

Atchafalaya River

Residents boat through a flooded section of the Atchafalaya River May 14, 2011 in Simmesport, Louisiana. The Morganza Spillway floodgates were opened for the first time in nearly forty years today to lower the crest of the flooding Mississippi River at Baton Rouge and downriver to New Orleans.
Photo: Getty Images

Residents boat through a flooded section of the Atchafalaya River May 14, 2011 in Simmesport, Louisiana. The Morganza Spillway floodgates were opened for the first time in nearly forty years today to lower the crest of the flooding Mississippi River at Baton Rouge and downriver to New Orleans.

Flood Preparations

Lousiana Army National Guard soldiers help construct an emergency secondary levee May 15, 2011 in Krotz Springs, Louisiana. St. Landry Parish officials ordered a mandatory evacuation today for around 2000 residents in Krotz Springs and nearby Melville, Louisiana.
Photo: Getty Images

Lousiana Army National Guard soldiers help construct an emergency secondary levee May 15, 2011 in Krotz Springs, Louisiana. St. Landry Parish officials ordered a mandatory evacuation today for around 2000 residents in Krotz Springs and nearby Melville, Louisiana.

Flood Evacuation Zone

A boy stands in the flooded Atchafalaya River during a mandatory evacuation on May 15, 2011 in Melville, Louisiana.
Photo: Getty Images

A boy stands in the flooded Atchafalaya River during a mandatory evacuation on May 15, 2011 in Melville, Louisiana.

Streets Underwater

Street signs are slowly swallowed by floodwater May 12, 2011 in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Photo: Getty Images

Street signs are slowly swallowed by floodwater May 12, 2011 in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Salvage Efforts

Bobby Gorman (R) gets help from Dylan Teague as he loads his boat onto a trailer along a flooded section of the Bill Ramsey Memorial Highway after rescuing possessions from his flooded farmhouse May 12, 2011 near Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Photo: Getty Images

Bobby Gorman (R) gets help from Dylan Teague as he loads his boat onto a trailer along a flooded section of the Bill Ramsey Memorial Highway after rescuing possessions from his flooded farmhouse May 12, 2011 near Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Flooded Homes

Michael Walton prepares to move his truck to higher ground as floodwater begins to surround his home May 12, 2011 in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Photo: Getty Images

Michael Walton prepares to move his truck to higher ground as floodwater begins to surround his home May 12, 2011 in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Flood Patrol

Detective Mike Traxler of the Warren County Sheriff's Department uses a boat to patrol a flooded neighborhood May 12, 2011 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Sheriff's Department has been maintaining regular patrols in the flooded areas of Vicksburg watching for looters and stranded residents and their pets.
Photo: Getty Images

Detective Mike Traxler of the Warren County Sheriff's Department uses a boat to patrol a flooded neighborhood May 12, 2011 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Sheriff's Department has been maintaining regular patrols in the flooded areas of Vicksburg watching for looters and stranded residents and their pets.

Front Yard Fishing

William Jefferson fishes in the street near his flooded home in the King's Community neighborhood May 11, 2011 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Mississippi River at Vicksburg is expected to crest near record levels at 58.5 feet by May 12. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
Photo: Getty Images

William Jefferson fishes in the street near his flooded home in the King's Community neighborhood May 11, 2011 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Mississippi River at Vicksburg is expected to crest near record levels at 58.5 feet by May 12. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

Townhouses in Memphis

Townhomes on Mud Island sit in floodwater from the Mississippi River May 10, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Mississippi reached its crest at Memphis the night before at about four inches less than anticipated and nearly a foot shy of the record crest of 1937.
Photo: Getty Images

Townhomes on Mud Island sit in floodwater from the Mississippi River May 10, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Mississippi reached its crest at Memphis the night before at about four inches less than anticipated and nearly a foot shy of the record crest of 1937.

Vicksburg, Mississippi

Barricades block access to a flooded neighborhood May 10, 2011 in Vicksburg, MS. The Mississippi river at Vicksburg is expected to rise an additional four feet by Thursday.
Photo: Getty Images

Barricades block access to a flooded neighborhood May 10, 2011 in Vicksburg, MS. The Mississippi river at Vicksburg is expected to rise an additional four feet by Thursday.

Mississippi River in Memphis

Floodwater covers Beale Street at the edge of the Mississippi River May 7, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images

Floodwater covers Beale Street at the edge of the Mississippi River May 7, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee.

East Prairie, Missouri

Floodwater surrounds homes May 3, 2011 in East Prairie, Missouri. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and has caused widespread flooding in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Arkansas.
Photo: Getty Images

Floodwater surrounds homes May 3, 2011 in East Prairie, Missouri. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and has caused widespread flooding in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Arkansas.

Floodwaters Surge

The height of the Mississippi River is guaged as water from the rising river is released through the Bonnet Carre Spillway May 9, 2011 in Norco, Louisiana. The Army Corps of Engineers began redirecting part of the Mississippi River through the spillway today to lower river levels and reduce pressure on levees in order to avoid a catastrophic failure. The water will flow nearly 6 miles north before emptying into Lake Pontchartrain as the Mississippi rises close to the highest level ever upriver i
Photo: Getty Images

The height of the Mississippi River is gauged as water from the rising river is released through the Bonnet Carre Spillway May 9, 2011 in Norco, Louisiana.

The Army Corps of Engineers began redirecting part of the Mississippi River through the spillway today to lower river levels and reduce pressure on levees in order to avoid a catastrophic failure. The water will flow nearly 6 miles north before emptying into Lake Pontchartrain as the Mississippi rises close to the highest level ever upriver in Memphis.

Homes In Missouri

Floodwater engulfs a home after the Army Corps of Engineers blew a massive hole in a levee at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to divert water from the town of Cairo, Illinois May 3, 2011 near Wyatt, Missouri. The diversion flooded about 130,000 acres of Missouri farmland and 100 homes in the state. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and has caused widespread flooding in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Arkansas.
Photo: Getty Images

Floodwater engulfs a home after the Army Corps of Engineers blew a massive hole in a levee at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to divert water from the town of Cairo, Illinois May 3, 2011 near Wyatt, Missouri.

The diversion flooded about 130,000 acres of Missouri farmland and 100 homes in the state. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and has caused widespread flooding in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Arkansas.

Memphis, Tennessee

A woman looks at flooded homes May 9, 2011 in Memphis. The Mississippi River is crested at 47.85 feet, which is about 8 inches shy of the record set during the flood of 1937.
Photo: Getty Images

A woman looks at flooded homes May 9, 2011 in Memphis. The Mississippi River is crested at 47.85 feet, which is about 8 inches shy of the record set during the flood of 1937.

Floods in Memphis

A home is surrounded by floodwater in the West Junction neighborhood May 8, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images

A home is surrounded by floodwater in the West Junction neighborhood May 8, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Memphis Emergency Crews

A firetruck drives down a flooded street May 7, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
Photo: Getty Images

A firetruck drives down a flooded street May 7, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee. Heavy rains have left the ground saturated, rivers swollen, and have caused widespread flooding in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

Residential Neighborhoods

Residents paddle a boat past houses being swallowed up by floodwater May 7, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images

Residents paddle a boat past houses being swallowed up by floodwater May 7, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Holding Back the Water

Workers from Memphis Light Gas and Water use sandbags to re-enforce a flood gate erected across Chelsea Avenue May 7, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images

Workers from Memphis Light Gas and Water use sandbags to re-enforce a flood gate erected across Chelsea Avenue May 7, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Homes Destroyed

A house is engulfed by floodwater May 7, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images

A house is engulfed by floodwater May 7, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Wyatt, Missouri

Roy Presson (C) embraces his daughters Catherine (L) and Amanda as they stand on the edge of State Highway HH looking out at their family farm on May 3, 2011 at Wyatt, Missouri. The Presson home and 2,400 acres of land that they farmed was flooded last night when the Army Corps of Engineers blew a massive hole in a levee at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to help save the town of Cairo, Illinois. Residents of Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee and Arkansas are bracing for record flo
Photo: Getty Images

Roy Presson (C) embraces his daughters Catherine (L) and Amanda as they stand on the edge of State Highway HH looking out at their family farm on May 3, 2011 at Wyatt, Missouri.

The Presson home and 2,400 acres of land that they farmed was flooded last night when the Army Corps of Engineers blew a massive hole in a levee at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to help save the town of Cairo, Illinois. Residents of Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee and Arkansas are bracing for record flooding from the two rivers.