theatlantic:  Mississippi Flooding The Mississippi River crested in Memphis at nearly 48 feet yesterday — not quite surpassing its all-time record set in 1937, but still soaking low-lying areas with enough water to require a massive cleanup. The upper Mississippi basin has been experiencing near-record flooding for weeks now. Across Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Arkansas, heavy rains have left the ground saturated and rivers swollen. At the same time as recovery begins in Memphis, residents of Louisiana are working to prepare themselves for the massive amounts of water heading their way — experts estimate that as many as three million acres may become submerged in the next few days. See more photos at In Focus [Scott Olson/Getty Images]
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