Map of the 2011 Mississippi River Floods

On May 3, the US Army Corps of Engineers blasted a two-mile hole in the levee protecting the Bird's Point-New Madrid floodway, flooding 130,000 acres (530 km2) of farmland in Mississippi County, Missouri in an effort to save the town of Cairo, Illinois from record-breaking flood waters. The breach displaced around 200 residents of Mississippi and New Madrid counties who were forced to evacuate after a court approved the Corps of Engineers plan to breach the levee. (Wikipedia)

Dyersburg, a city in northwestern Tennessee has experienced the worst flooding with over 600 homes and businesses inundated as the Forked Deer River, a tributary of the Mississippi, has flowed backwards into southern areas of the city. (Wikipedia)

In Memphis, Tennessee the high-end neighborhood of Harbor Town located along the river on Mud Island in Downtown Memphis has begun evacuating its 5,200 residents as flood waters rise to record-levels. On May 5, the river reached 44 feet 2 inches (13.5 m), the highest level it has reached at Memphis since 1937 where the river reached a record 48.7 feet (14.8 m). The National Weather Service predicts the river to rise to 48 feet by May 10.

Many local rivers have spilled their banks, including Big Creek, the Loosahatchie River, and the Wolf River. Subsequent flooding has occurred in Millington as well as suburban areas of Frayser, Bartlett, and East Memphis. (Wikipedia)

Interstate 40 connecting Memphis to Little Rock, Arkansas has experienced flooding West of Memphis along the White River between Hazen and Brinkley where lanes in both directions have been closed. Eight people have died in Arkansas as a result of flooding since April 26. (Wikipedia)

See the extraordinary effort a local resident has made to protect his home.

In Tunica County, nine casinos located on stationary river barges have been closed. The hotel portion of the casinos are located on adjacent, low-lying land and have begun to flood with the rising waters. On May 5, the Harrah's Tunica has reported nearly 6 feet (1.8 m) of water inside the ground floor of the hotel tower. (Wikipedia)

Near Vicksburg, Highway 465 in Warren and Issaquena Counties was closed on May 5 due to high flood waters. In anticipation of major flooding, Governor Haley Barbour announced on May 5 that the federal government had declared eleven counties along the Mississippi River federal disaster areas. Gov. Barbour has requested to have additional counties added. By May 7, thirteen counties were listed: Adams, Bolivar, Claiborne, Coahoma, Desoto, Issaquena, Jefferson, Sharkey, Tunica, Warren, Washington, Wilkinson, and Yazoo. Projected crest levels at Vicksburg and Natchez are above the record 1927 level. (Wikipedia)

Via CNN: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could open the Morganza Spillway as early as Saturday, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said Friday. Opening the spillway would lower anticipated cresting levels along the lower Mississippi River and divert water from Baton Rouge and New Orleans but would flood much of low-lying south-central Louisiana. Seven parishes are expected to be affected by the opening, according to the Corps. The Mississippi River Commission has advised a slow opening, and the flood would spread gradually over several days, the Corps said.

The Morganza Spillway has not been opened since 1973.