Vicksburg Casino reopens - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Vicksburg Casino reopens

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Mississippi casinos are showing signs of recovery, after historic flooding in recent weeks. Friday, the Mississippi Gaming Commission approved the re-opening of the Rainbow Casino in Vicksburg.

The casino closed May 11th after flood waters came dangerously close to their building.

There was already a small crowd inside the casino after they opened their doors at 4 p.m. Friday.

Rainbow used Hesco sandbags to keep water out of their building.

"If we had not put these barriers up we would have had 3 feet of water in buildings, I'm not sure what would have happened," says Manager Paul Avery.

10 of the 16 casinos closed due to flooding opened their doors Friday.

Next door at the casino hotel, the water seeped in through the concrete, putting an inch of water in 19 rooms.

Entergy continues to restore power to customers.

There are still 230 customers, mostly concentrated in the north part of Vicksburg without power.

Many of those homes were abandoned due to flooding.  Entergy says they will have to wait till the water recedes before they can be turned back on.

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