As the level of the Mississippi River inches higher day after day, many residents living near its' banks are trying everything they can to prepare and protect homes and businesses.
The Mississippi River at Vicksburg, Monday morning, went a quarter of a foot above the level it reached in the Flood of 1973.
It was 51.85 feet on the Vicksburg gage.
That is almost 10 feet above the flood stage of 43 feet.
The rising river has forced the closing of Diamond Jacks Casino, but other Vicksburg casinos are still open.
A huge levee has been built to protect Ergon Marine next door.
Ergon supplies tugboats with fuel and groceries while they are underway.
South of Vicksburg, a huge levee is being built to protect Foam Packaging Inc., which makes foam egg cartons for customers in 26 states.
Ray English says the levee is being built to protect 137 jobs.
"We are gonna, we are making sure that we don't have any water in our building," English said. "We made a decision, we got the best people to do it, and we have had two different groups working on it."
Nearby, John Scroggins, a 79 year old retired Army Corps of Engineers employee, is building a strong levee around his house, just inside the city limits of south Vicksburg.
"I've got about $5,000 in it so far," Scroggins said. "But that is a small price to pay for what my house and my furniture and stuff is worth."
Warren County has raised an old railroad bed to save Green Meadow subdivision nearby.
A levee is also being built at the Old Anderson Tully Lumber Company yard of 61 north of downtown.
Sandbags are being put in place at the Mid South Lumber & Supply Company on 61 South.
Stacked railroad ties are now forming a wall, just south of the old train station at Grove and Levee Streets to keep water out of the waterfront area.
The Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Train Station has taken on water.
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