City of Vicksburg, Warren County, state and federal officials held a joint press conference Monday regarding impending flooding in areas around the county. Emergency teams from multiple agencies are working together to address public safety during the coming high water event.

Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs, Jr. opened the conference.

“The safety and well-being of our community remain our top priority,” he said.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District Commander Col. Jeremiah Gipson said the river is expected to crest at 47.5 feet. That crest is expected to happen around April 20.

“We’re coordinating water level forecasts several times per day,” Gipson said. “We’re working with navigation and industry experts to make sure that those boats, specifically these tour boats and those boats that move commerce on the waterways, stay safe.”

Gipson also mentioned the effects flooding has on the Yazoo Backwater area.

“We all know what happens when Steele Bayou closes. That water collects behind the Yazoo Backwater,” Gipson said. “The structure is closed right now due to the high levels here. That structure will remain closed for about another two-and-a-half weeks. We will reopen and release that water again safely within the parameters of the Mississippi River Tributaries Project.”

Stephen McCraney, executive director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), also spoke at the conference.

“What you see here is a combined effort. This is local, county, state, and federal, all in partnership. We’re all sharing the same information, we’re all getting out (and) making our rounds, looking at what we need to look at,” McCraney said. “On a beautiful day like today, it doesn’t seem like flooding is coming, but it is. It’s on the way down.”

John Elfer, director of the Warren County Emergency Management Agency, also spoke.

“There’s no reason for anybody to get injured or certainly killed. With the river flood, we know when it’s coming. We about know when it’s going to leave. It’s slow to get here. Then it’s slow to leave us. So if you have any questions or concerns, we have a Warren County Emergency Management Facebook page.”

Elfer said the county would be putting out notices of road closures and flooding through social media.

“MEMA’s putting stuff out; the Corps of Engineers is putting stuff out; the City of Vicksburg has been putting stuff out. So there’s multiple avenues where you can get information,” he said. “And if you have any questions, you can always call my office at 601-636-1544.”

According to the Warren County Emergency Management Agency, flooding will impact numerous roads including Highway 465, which may close by Wednesday. The highway is a major thoroughfare between Highway 61 and the Eagle Lake community.

McCraney said the river is expected to start dropping by April 30. He also mentioned that those living in areas expected to flood should have a plan of where to meet and where to go in the event of road closures.