Vicksburg police officers were expected to go door-to-door Wednesday in Ford Subdivision and the Kings community to warn residents of the potential for flooding in their neighborhoods.

The warnings come as city officials begin preparing for a 49.5-foot crest on the Mississippi River at Vicksburg March 14.

“We’re going to the residents at their homes and get their information to see if they plan on staying with the water rising,” said Danielle Williams, crime prevention specialist for the department.

“We’re going to get everybody’s name and phone number, and then ask them if they have someplace to go, like a relative’s home, so we can keep check on where everybody is and where they’re going.”

If they miss someone, Williams said, they will leave information asking people to call the police department “so those we miss can give us the information.”

According to the National Weather Service, the river is forecast to reach 44.8 feet Sunday.

At 44 feet, Ford Subdivision and the Kings community at Pittman Road and Mary’s Alley begin to flood; at 44.6 feet, homes on Williams Street begin to flood, and at 45 feet, Ford and Kings at Williams Street begin to flood.

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said city utility workers will also notify residents they will begin closing gas and water meters before the area floods.

Water from the Mississippi is already affecting some county roads. Warren County Emergency Management director John Elfer said Long Lake Road and Chickasaw Road, Zigler Road are already closed, with Chickasaw Bayou Road expected to be closed Wednesday.

Warren County road manager Larry Flowers said the Kings Point Ferry has been docked because the roads leading to it are under water.

Elfer said sandbags will be available at the Warren County Barn on County Lane off U.S. 61 North and at the Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Station. People can call the Emergency Management office at 601-636-1544.

Mississippi Department of Transportation Central District engineer Kevin Magee said MDOT officials are watching the backwater areas in the northern part of the county, adding Mississippi 465, which goes to Eagle Lake, could be closed by Monday or Tuesday.

“That’s our best guess at this time,” Magee said. “We will keep 465 open until the very last second, then we’ll close it.

“We’re getting information from the Corps (of Engineers), and they kind of project when they think things will happen, and they’re pretty correct, but we could get some more rain that could impact the area. We’ve got a lot of variables working at the same time.”

Heavy rain in Arkansas and northern areas of the Upper Mississippi River Basin have been the cause of the flooding problems in Warren County as runoff from the rain in the north heads south. More rain is expected to hit the area through Thursday.