Several days of heavy rains caused severe flooding throughout the region the week of March 6-12. At press time many people in and around Clarksdale were still waiting for the water to drop. The Clarksdale Press Register provided the following update.
CLARKSDALE – As citizens try to recover from the flood, relief efforts around town are under way to help those who need it most.
As of Monday afternoon, Coahoma County EMA Johnny Tarzi said around 200 to 250 homes have been destroyed and he said he wouldn’t be surprised if there were more. The water still has to drop before any real damage assessments can be made, he said.

Flood waters have nearly reached the sign on the Clarksdale Municipal School District central office on Friars Point Road. Several nearby residents have evacuated their homes, which are inundated, and other residents who live in the area known as “the circle” can only get in and out of the neighborhood by boat. (Photo and text repinted with permission from Nathan Duff of the Clarksdale Press Register.)

“The river, I’m hoping it’s going to crest today and get out of here Thursday and Friday,” Tarzi said. “We have to do damage assessments, whenever the water drops out of here.”
Tarzi said he sends daily report to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). After officials can do real damage assessment, the county may be eligible for federal disaster funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the second time in less than four months.
Tarzi told the Board of Mayor and Commissioners Monday afternoon that he was optimistic Coahoma County would be eligible for both individual and public assistance, the latter of which reimburses the city and/or county for money spent on cleanup and rescue efforts.
The Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Clarksdale Civic Auditorium at 506 E. Second St. and on Monday morning, Fire Chief Obert Douglas said about 16 people stayed there Sunday night, but that number fluctuates as some people are coming and going and staying with family members. Almost every local hotel has displaced citizens, but the Red Cross doesn’t have funds to help people pay for rooms or to provide temporary housing such as trailers, which is why getting MEMA and FEMA help is important.
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson is trying to garner support from the governor, said Trey Baker with Thompson’s office.
“The congressman has been in touch with multiple officials in Clarksdale and Coahoma County, and he is fully abreast of everything that is going on,” Baker said.
Baker said that Thompson would support the area being declared a federal disaster area, but that the request for that has to come from Gov. Phil Bryant’s office. Baker indicated that Thompson’s office has reached out to Bryant, but has not received word of an official request as of Monday afternoon.

Ruskey said the water rose just 4 inches Sunday night, but he didn’t know exactly how high the Sunflower River got because the transmitter that powers the USGS river gauge behind City Hall was flooded and stopped working. He said a lot of the water is runoff from flooded fields and he said the tributaries are getting so much water that the Yazoo Pass has started to flow backward into Moon Lake.
Confederate Street and the surrounding area behind Greenbough Nursing Home was one of the first areas to flood last Thursday. Most of the East Park subdivision outside the town of Lyon is under water after a couple of the levees around that area gave way on Friday. Aerial photos of the area show water approaching the roofs of at least two dozen homes.
Lyon Mayor Woody Sawyer said they’ve encouraged citizens, especially older folks, to give him, public works director Larry Cook or any town alderman a call if they need anything, including water or groceries. He said the roads that are impassible, even those blocked with barricades, can make for a treacherous trip.
“We’ll do anything we can to or lend any of our equipment to anyone who needs it,” he added.
Catholic Charities has been monitoring the situation, keeping in touch with Clarksdale pastor Father Scott Thomas and other community leaders. Those in need of assistance should notify their pastor, who will coordinate response through the Catholic Charities Disaster Response office.