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Tunica County closes Tunica Lake Road, authorizes RV parking as river rises
Summary
The Tunica County Board of Supervisors approved closing Tunica Lake Road between Fox Island and Riverview, authorized use of Paul Battle Arena for RV parking and equipment staging, and directed damage assessments as the Mississippi River rise was forecast to crest at 37.5 feet.
The Tunica County Board of Supervisors voted to close Tunica Lake Road between Fox Island and Riverview and to allow use of Paul Battle Arena for RV hookups and equipment staging as county officials responded to rising Mississippi River levels.
Board discussion centered on immediate public-safety steps and temporary accommodations for residents and equipment. "The Mississippi River is forecasted to crest at 37.5 feet," said Mister Clark, a staff member giving the emergency update, and the board approved his request to close the road and permit RV parking at county facilities.
Why it matters: supervisors said the closure and staging are meant to protect residents and county roadways as the river rises rapidly. Clark told the board he had already temporarily closed the roadway and that two campers and equipment were parked on Tunica Lake Road at the time of his report.
The county also received updates on rainfall and localized impacts. Clark said parts of the county received between about 8 and 15 inches of rain, and that Coldwater River had crested and was slowly falling. County staff reported water on Vernon Road and several other local roads; some roads (Fishlake Road, Seabrook Road and Fields Road) remained closed or restricted during the meeting.
Board members pressed for details on the likely extent of inundation. Clark said that at 37.5 feet "most of the roads on Bordeaux Point in Charles Camp will probably be underwater," and that casino operations should not be affected at that level. He also said electric utilities were coordinating staged disconnections in low-lying areas if emergency services could not access them.
Supervisors instructed staff to continue damage assessments. Clark said the county was conducting assessments of wind and flood damage and working with residents on those evaluations.
Ending: The board adopted the temporary closure and staging measures by motion and vote, and staff will continue to update supervisors as river forecasts and damage assessments change.
