A community flood brief meeting was held Wednesday afternoon at Eagle Lake Fire Department with Sheriff Martin Pace and other officials to inform residents of what they can expect in the coming days with the Mississippi River expected to crest at 54 ft. Saturday, Jan. 16.

The Eagle Lake community is unique because it will not flood, but access to the area will be cut off when the water reaches 51 ft. and covers Highway 465. Highway 465 is projected to close at the end of the day Wednesday.

District 3 engineer for the Mississippi Department of Transportation Kevin McGee addressed the closure of Highway 465 saying the prediction of closing Wednesday evening is based on the Army Corps of Engineers projections of the water level.

“By Thursday morning it might have a foot of water on it already,” Magee said. “Right now we plan on closing it Wednesday night, but that can change based on what the water does.”

He said they would inspect the highway’s stability carefully before reopening it to traffic and residents should not expect the road to open as soon as the water recedes.

Peter Nimrod, chief engineer of the levee board, fielded some heated questions from residents who were concerned about use of the levee and FEMA mandated emergency evacuation plans. He said when Highway 465 closes Wednesday evening residents will be able to use the backwater levee until limestone is put in place on the northern mainline levee. They hope to have as little traffic on the backwater levee as possible because it is easily torn up and the water is expected to rise 3 ft. from its surface. Heavy trucks will not be allowed on the backwater levee, only personal vehicles and school buses.

“You will not be stranded here,” Nimrod said.

Emergency Management Director John Elfer appealed to the crowd with empathy.

“I know you’re anxious. I know you’re inconvenienced. We are here to serve you, and I mean that,” Elfer said. “This has been one of the best organized responses.”

He urged everyone to keep up with the latest information on the flood at www.vicksburgwarrenflood2016.com. Links to the websites of agencies teaming together during the flood can be found on the website as well. Those without the Internet are can call Elfer’s office at 601-636-1544.

Pace told the crowd of residents there would be a deputy presence along with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks at all times until the flooding situation is completely over.

“We’ll have a full contingent around the clock,” Pace said.

Lt. Tracy Tullos district supervisor for the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks addressed hunting season, which will close west of Highway 61 and south of Highway 14 once the water reaches 43 ft. on the Vicksburg gauge.

“All hunting except waterfowl hunting will close,” Tullos said.

He also motioned the increased patrol and said anyone who caused damage by “causing a wake or throwing a wake up into a structure” would be addressed criminally.

Waste pickup by Waste Management will cease after Saturday said Katie Strong, environmental officer for WM. Starting Monday they will have three roll offs located at the landing. She asked everyone to only throw away household garbage in bags and not put any animal carcasses in the bins.

“As soon as they can get back up here, they will start their regular routine,” Strong said.

Pace said they have contacted Twin County Electric Power and Yazoo Valley Electric Power, but no representatives from either company came to the meeting. He said as far as he knows electricity won’t be affected but it is always a possibility. Mail and newspaper delivery also should not be affected, he said.

District 2 Supervisor William Banks said neither the Board of Supervisors nor MDOT would block the culverts because the damage could be costly.

Local fire chief Earl Wallace said he was the only first responder at Eagle Lake and he closed the meeting by asking any retired doctors to lend him their help if a medical emergency arises.

Elfer and Pace stressed all emergency calls need to be directed to 911.

“If we get through this whole thing with nobody getting hurt and very little property damage, then we have been successful, and that is our goal,” Elfer said.