A state of emergency has been declared in Mississippi due to flooding

(CNN) – Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves declare a state of emergency On Saturday afternoon, Weather and Emergency Management officials forecast the Pearl River flooding on Monday, 24 hours earlier than initially expected.

“If the forecast proves correct, the Pearl River is expected to reach its peak on Monday, August 29, at a height of 36 feet (10 metres),” Reeves said in the statement. “The state of Mississippi is as prepared as possible for these floods. My department, including MEMA, is closely monitoring this situation and is actively working to respond as quickly as possible to ongoing developments with flooding.”

State emergency management officials have already begun assessing water levels along the river and have deployed more than 100,000 sandbags, according to the statement.

Officials initially expected the Pearl River to reach 36 feet (10 meters) and peak by Tuesday, CNN reported, but the river is now expected to reach its summit Monday through Monday evening, emergency management officials said at a conference. Saturday press.

John Sigmund, general manager of Barnett Reserve, warned of higher waters ahead of the summit, as the waters are expected to rise steadily, before slowly lowering.

“It looks like we’ll be in the floodwaters we’re seeing even today, and maybe into the weekend with a gradual slump after that,” Sigmund said.

Sigmund said scattered and isolated rains during the week are not expected to have a significant impact on water levels.