Tunica County supervisors have declared a state of emergency effective April 25, giving officials broad authority to take actions "deemed necessary," in the face of worsening forecasts for flooding along the Mississippi River.

Emergency Coordinator Randy Stewart met with representatives from Tunica Cut-off on Saturday and will meet again Monday at 6 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center on Highway 61 in Tunica.
Stewart said the Henderson Recreation Center will serve as a shelter for people displaced by flooding; the shelter could open as early as Tuesday. Stewart said the Red Cross has been contacted and that parking space has been readied for Cut-off residents at the base of the levee along Fox Island Road. Security is in place, he added.
Stewart said forecasts are being issued every 24 hours and that conditions are worsening. At this time, predictions are for a May 8 crest as high as 44 feet, some  10 feet above flood stage in Tunica County. Flood stage at Memphis is 34 feet.
The Mississippi and Ohio rivers are well above flood stage already at every National Weather Service station from Cincinnati, Ohio south to New Orleans, with a record high crest of 60 feet forecast at Cairo, IL.
Although a mandatory evacuation of Tunica Cut-off has not been issued, officials are strongly urging people to leave now. Access roads to the four camps will likely be under water by Thursday or Friday. Entergy will soon decide when to stop electrical service to the area.
Those needing updated information are asked to call the EOC at 662-363-4012 during regular business hours. Emergencies should continue to be reported to 911.