Photo Credit: WMC
Bracing For The Worst

 
The Shelby County Emergency Preparedness office has announced the National Weather Service revised higher the estimated crest of the Mississippi River at Memphis to 48 feet; more from Fox13, WREG, the Commercial Appeal. Hydrological map of Mississippi River level. This is less than a foot below the historic 1927 flood crest! NO mandatory evacuations have been ordered. Various reports from the Associated Press, USA Today, CNN and the Commercial Appeal. Flooded neighborhoods all across Shelby County. As roads get blocked and gas stations get covered in water, do we face a gas shortage? Churches are opening their doors as flood shelters. Business are urged to have a flood continuity plan NOW.

President Barack Obama has granted the State’s disaster declarations from the tornados last week. The General DeWitt Spain Airport has been closed, as a precautionary measure. “Major flooding” in West Memphis, AR; more from WREG. The US Army Corps of Engineers broke a levee in Southeatern Missouri; its effect on Memphis is uncertain; more in the Commercial Appeal and from Reuters.

Numbers to call to report flooding. Road closures and flood maps through late Monday night.

Pictures & Video of the Flooding: From the Dyersberg State-Gazette incredible images from up-river; more from Obion County and the Missouri Bootheel from NWTN Today. Viewer-submitted photos from WMC and from WREG. Satellite comparison of the extent of flooding in the entire Mississippi River valley and its tributaries.

Flooding Websites: There’s a discussion forum now, MemphisFlood.com. Areas projected to be affected by the flooding. Links to constantly updated maps, via WREG. Website for the Memphis/Shelby County Emergency Management Agency. The Shelby County Emergency Preparedness website is here. Flood impact maps by ZIP codes. Road conditions in Shelby County, via WMC; also, open emergency shelters.

Memphis in May: Officials with the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest were soliciting suggestions fron contestants and the public on how to handle the likelihood of flooding in Tom Lee Park. They decided to move the contest to Tiger Lane at the Liberty Bowl; more from ABC24, WMC, WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

St Jude Children’s Research Hospital: A group, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, donated $279,000.
 

Business: Aramark Aviation Services will lay off 93 employees soon; 130 overall. A Memphis waitress is attempting to vent her anger at customers who don’t tip by posting their receipts.

The Commercial Appeal reports People in Business and What to Do. In the Daily News, Today’s Events.

Medtronic: CEO William A. Hawkins was supposed to have retired last Friday, but he will stay on the job until a new CEO is hired. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Valero: While they are taking precautions, they do not expect flooding will impact production at this point.

Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare: They have just acquired the two-doctor practice, Kraus Internal Medicine, which will relocate.

Mississippi: President Barack Obama declared 11 counties disaster areas, enabling unemployment compensation for workers. Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said he’s “disappointed” a panel of judges want State legislative candidates to run in separate districts depending on which chamber they want to serve in.

Osama Bin Laden’s Death: Celebrations broke out at Fort Campbell. But soldiers and families are still worried about retaliation. The State House passed a resolution honoring the nation’s soldiers. A college bar in Knoxville breaks out into song when the news of Osama’s death came out. Tennessee blogger reactions. Dr. Kent Schull from the University of Memphis talks about the “implications” of his death.

Online Exclusive: Joe Saino, the Shelby Watchdog: Memphis Mayor A C Wharton asked the public to offer suggestions about cutting the Memphis City budget and Joe is only to happy to provide Some Suggestions that would reduce it substantially!

Internet Exclusive: Chuck Bates: Our financial correspondent calms down the clucking Chicken Littles who are saying, The Debt Ceiling is Falling, The Debt Ceiling is Falling!.

Millington and West TN: Residents there fear a repeat. Millington, on the anniversary of last year’s flooding, prepares for a new round. Dyer County flooding; Tipton County. Flooded roads in Fayette County. The Obion County Emergency Management Agency is warning residents in low-lying areas to prepare for evacuation.

City of Memphis: Former public records coordinator, Bridgett Handy-Clay, is appealing the dismissal of her lawsuit againt the City alleging wrongful termination over whistleblowing. At today’s City Council meeting, it is likely they will halve the residential sewer fee. The meeting agenda is here. The Fire Department assures citizens that planned three-year reductions in staffing won’t endanger citizens.

City-County School Mediation: All parties in the City-County merger will be in court today to see what’s next after mediation failed.

Booker T. Washington High School: They have survived the first cut to make the final three schools being considered for a commencement address by President Barack Obama. Reports from Fox13, WMC, WREG. White House announcement and video. Their nomination video, from WhiteHouse.gov.

State Education Reform: The Tennessee Report presents a comprehensive overview of the status of bills in the Legislature affecting education. Reform is also happening for homeschooling parents.

The Senate voted to approve legislation that removes collective bargaining rights from teachers unions. More details from the Knoxville News-Sentinel and the Commercial Appeal.

Memphis City Schools: MCS Deputy Superintendent Irving Hamer, who was in contention for the top job with Little Rock, AR, schools, has been dropped from the list.

Arkansas: The State has been given Federal approval to revamp its Medicare system; more.

Politics: Committees in the State House and Senate are expected to vote today on bills requiring only one notice of foreclosure instead of the current three. The Senate passed a bill to raise the amount of payday loans. Someday, if they’re lucky, State Democrats may find someone to run against US Senator Bob Corker.

Second Amendment: Two bills concern gun rights–allowing judges to carry in courtrooms and allowing college faculty to carry on campus–are seeing action in the State House.

DeSoto County: Caution is urged for drivers. Road flooding emergency declared. The Commercial Appeal’s Bulletin Board for May 3. Southaven gained County approval for a tax increment financing plan for the DeSoto Pointe project. the next step for Southaven’s Penny For Your Parks tax is US Justice Department approval. Horn Lake may apply for a State sewer improvement grant.

Internet Exclusive: Memphis Film Commission’s Linn Sitler: Main Street Journal contributor Mick Wright talks with Sitler about Getting Memphis Before the Cameras again.

Internet Exclusive: Shelby County Commissioner Steve Mulroy: Commissioner Mulroy takes a few minutes to explain Why the Need for Public Secrecy? when it comes to County Commission business on public issues.

2011 Memphis Giving Guide: If you want to help but aren’t sure where to volunteer your time or donate your money, this free Memphis Giving Guide, from the Main Street Journal, can help you find the Christ-led ministries effecting social change in Memphis. (11 MB PDF document; right-click and save)

Webb Brewer: He argues that foreclosure notice rules shouldn’t be changed because of the potential for mischief and abuse. (via the Daily News)

The Worldly Invester: The Fed must strike a balance with job creation and inflation. (via the Daily News)

Smart Stuff 4 Work: Reconsidering getting there from here. (via the Daily News)

Small Business Advocate: The Internet Age is absolutely the Age of the Customer. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Tom Humphrey: Why so much anti-union legislation in a state where only 5 percent of the workfoce is unionised, and most of them work for the government? (via the Knoxville Business Journal)

Donald Sensing: A retired Army major, a blogger and pastor, looks at what is next for Al Qaeda. (via the No Silence Here blog)

Commercial Appeal: A “camel’s nose in the tent” kind of compromise. “[J]ubilation and expressions of pride are natural” in the death of Osama Bin Laden.