FLOOD OF 1979 POST-FLOOD REPORT Prepared by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary (Abstract) List of Figures, Tables, and Plates Authority, Purpose, and Scope     Authority     Purpose and Scope Summary and History of Flood     General     Area Inundated--by State         Arkansas         Louisiana         Mississippi     Area Inundated--by Basin         Arkansas River Basin         Big Black and Southwest Tributaries         Mississippi River--Main Stem         Ouachita River Basin     Yazoo River Basin     Procedures Used to Determine Acres Inundated Emergency Activities     Flood-Fight Organization     Pre-emergency Measures     Emergency Operations Measures         Mobilization         Emergency Operations Center         Transportation and Communication Support         Flood-Fight Procedures     Lessons Learned in the 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1979 Flood Fights     Coordination with Other Federal Agencies         General         U.S. Weather Service         Federal Disaster Assistance Administration     Public Affairs Meteorological and Hydrological Data     Big Black and Southwest Tributaries     Mississippi River--Main Stem     Ouachita River Basin     Yazoo River Basin Flood Damages, Vicksburg District     Total Damages by state         Arkansas         Arkansas Counties         Louisiana         Louisiana Parishes         Mississippi         Mississippi Counties     Total Damages by basin         Arkansas River Basin         Big Black and Southwest Tributaries         Mississippi River--Main Stem         Ouachita River Basin     Yazoo River Basin Appendix A: Flooded Area Data Appendix B: Big Black, Homochitto, and Buffalo River Basin; Meteorological and Hydrological History of Storms and Floods, 1978-1979 Flood Period Appendix C: Mississippi River--Main Stem; Meteorological and Hydrological History of Storms and floods, 1978-1979 Flood Period Appendix D: Ouachita River Basin, Meteorological and Hydrological History of Storms and Floods 1978-1979 Flood Period Appendix F: Economic Data FIGURES 1. Total area inundated by basin 2. Total area inundated by state 3. Flood-Fight Organization 4. Damages by Category, Vicksburg District 5. Total damages by state 6. Total damages by basin TABLES 1. Area inundated by basin 2. Area inundated by state 3. Acres flooded in Arkansas and Louisiana 4. Mississippi River between the levees 5. Arkansas River between the levees 6. Acres flooded by county, Mississippi PLATES 1. Flood control projects 2. Flooded area--existing conditions 3. Flooded area--without flood control projects ABSTRACT For the fourth year in the decade, the Vicksburg District experienced flooding conditions. November 1978 brought the first heavy rains to the Ouachita River Basin (in Louisiana and Arkansas). Rainfall in this area ranged up to 280 percent of normal. During early 1979, the weather in Mississippi was diversified but near normal. April brought the first heavy rains. With these downpours the area soon became saturated and flooding occurred. The Vicksburg District had 4,211,900 acres flooded with present Corps of Engineers flood control projects in place or authorized flood control projects, which, when completed, will futher reduce flooding. Damages within the Vicksburg District during the flood of 1979 amounted to $118,457,000. Without flood control works, these damages would have been $7,278,304,000. Flood control works prevented damages that would have amounted to over $7 billion during this flood. The major flooding in the Vicksburg District during the flood of 1979 occurred in the Yazoo and Red River backwater areas. Much of this flooding would have been reduced by completion of already authorized flood control works, many of which were under construction at the time of the flood. Remaining flooding within the backwater areas will require additional authorization to eliminate. From an engineering or economic standpoint, some flooding is impossible to prevent. Substantial flood damages occurred in the area between the Mississippi River levees. Because of development within this area, it is not possible under present conditions to eliminate these damages. Areas such as that between the Mississippi River levees and the lower land in the backwater areas require flood-plain management or flood-plain zoning to minimize flood damages. The cooperation of the Department of Public Works, Levee Boards, Civil Defense, the 214th Engineer Command, the Highway Patrol, Sheriff's Offices, and others too numerous to list here, is to be commended. During peak operations, about 400 District personnel were actively involved in the flood fight. Many state and local organizations and officials, National Guard and Army Reserve units, and Civil Defense were active in the flood fight and should be highly commended. LizardTech's Djvu plug-in is needed to view these reports. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ENTIRE REPORT For questions or comments, contact K. Van Wilson.