Flooded portion of Highway 49 to close at 7:30pm - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Flooded portion of Highway 49 to close at 7:30pm

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By Cheryl Lasseter - bio | email
YAZOO COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -

Highway 49 in Humphreys and Yazoo Counties is expected to close at 7:30 Thursday evening due to flooding.

Although it's still drivable, MEMA says it's not worth the risk of someone driving off the road or getting stuck. "It's hard to gage how quick the water is coming up. People going that way, make sure you check with MDOT first," says MEMA Public Information Officer Greg Flynn.

Most of the roads branching off that portion of 49 have already been shut down. Many of the houses and structures are only accessible by boat at this point, including Simmons Catfish in Yazoo County. 700 water acres of this high-volume catfish producer are under flood waters. 

Office operations are now running out of the old BankPlus building on Main Street in Yazoo City.

All of the fish have been moved into 25 ponds that have been protected. "We've had to build a protective levee system around plant offices and the processing. Also, we've built protective levees around our ponds to protect the fish. It will withstand 109 ft. above sea level flood," says sales manager Mark Henderson.

It's an effort to prevent losing the fish downstream.

The Yazoo River is expected to crest on Monday at 39 feet. 

Copyright 2011 WLBT. All rights reserved.

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