The City Front floodwall at the Yazoo Diversion Canal will become a levee, at least on a new flood insurance rate map.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen Wednesday authorized Mayor Paul Winfield to sign an agreement and a request with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a provisionally accredited levee designation. The board also authorized Winfield to sign an agreement to provide proof that the wall meets federal regulations showing that it has stopped floodwaters from reaching the areas it protected.

The Mississippi River on May 19 crested at a historic 57.1 feet at Vicksburg, 14.1 feet above flood stage and 1.3 feet above the Great Flood of 1927. The floodwall kept waters from covering Levee Street, Catfish Row, the Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg playground, LD’s Kitchen and the land side of the Grand Station Casino.

City buildings and inspection director Victor Gray-Lewis said getting a levee designation for the wall means it will be included on FEMA’s countywide Flood Insurance Study and digital FIRM for Warren County, which includes portions of Vicksburg.

He said the designation also means land on the east side of the wall could be placed outside of the floodplain, which means a possible reduction in flood insurance premiums for businesses.

With FEMA’s approval, the city will have two years to meet the federal regulations. Gray-Lewis said the city will work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide documentation showing that the wall has held back floodwaters and meets other federal regulations.