Unnatural disaster: Human factors in the Mississippi floods

Abstract

For the third time in 15 years, the Mississippi River massively burst its banks this spring, causing potentially billions of dollars' worth of damage and causing corn prices to climb to $8.00 a bushel. Humans have been altering the river for centuries for flood control and navigation purposes, but now many experts are pointing to these changes as the culprits that turn naturally occurring floods into unnaturally destructive events. Also called into question are current policies regarding designation of floodplains and the role of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in determining which river modification projects are carried out. The Corps is beginning to take a more holistic approach to flood control that incorporates not only construction of levees but also buyouts and relocations. Federal legislation is also moving in this direction as policy makers focus on determining the nation's vulnerability to flood damages and making the best use of funding for mitigation projects.