Floods across North America
The spring of 2011 has brought with it an increase in water levels across North America. Cities and towns in both Canada and the United States struggle to cope with flooding.
Houses and property along the Mississippi River near Tunica, Miss., are flooded by the Mississippi River, Wednesday, May 11, 2011.
Floodwaters invade downtown Vicksburg, Miss. on Wednesday, May 11, 2011. Historic Vicksburg, the site of a pivotal Civil War battle, has been one of the hardest hit cities.
Mississippi River flood waters surround the driveway to Fitzgeralds Tunica, a casino and hotel in Robinsonville, Miss., Wednesday, May 11, 2011.
Homes on Mud Island are seen as floodwaters rise in Memphis, Tennessee May 9, 2011. The city of Memphis braced for the Mississippi River to peak within hours at a near record level, and downstream the U.S. government opened a spillway above New Orleans on Monday to relieve flooding pressure on the low-lying city.
People watch members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opening up bays along the Mississippi River to the Bonnet Carre spillway in Norco, Louisiana May 9, 2011. Officials opened the spillway to send Mississippi River water to Lake Pontchartrain. ENVIRONMENT)
A building is seen surrounded by floodwater Monday, May 9, 2011, in Memphis, Tenn. Memphis residents are waiting for the Mississippi River to reach its peak expected as early as Monday night as the river rises near its highest level ever in Memphis.
Weston Rogers of the U.S. Coast Guard looks at homes on Mud Island as floodwaters slowly rise in Memphis, Tennessee May 9, 2011. The city of Memphis braced for the Mississippi River to peak within hours at a near record level.
Residents look at houses being engulfed by floodwater in the West Junction neighborhood May 8, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee. Officials estimate about 1,300 homes are at risk of suffering dangerous flooding as the city braces for the highest Mississippi River crest since 1937.
A family looks at houses being engulfed by floodwater in the West Junction neighborhood where David grew up May 8, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee. Officials estimate about 1,300 homes are at risk of suffering dangerous flooding as the city braces for the highest Mississippi River crest since 1937.
Bryan Ezako, owner of a home which is surrounded by water on Golden Oak Cove, boats to his home near St. Francis Xavier, Man., Tuesday, May 9, 2011. Flood waters from the Assiniboine River are threatening several communities.
Military personnel from the C Company, 2PPCLI, help sandbag just outside Poplar Point in Manitoba, Monday, May 9, 2011. The high water levels of the Assiniboine River are threatening surrounding communities.JOHN WOODS
Work is done to build up the dikes of the Portage Diversion just outside Portage La Prairie in Manitoba, Tuesday, May 9, 2011. The high water levels of the Assiniboine River are threatening surrounding communities.JOHN WOODS
A truck crosses the southern dike of Morris on highway 75 as it heads south to the United States on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Morris, in southern Manitoba, is surrounded by water from the Morris and Red Rivers but isn't expected to experience a full ring dike closure.JOHN WOODS
Dominic Lareau paddles his canoe through a flooded street along the Richelieu River after buying some drinking water Monday, May 9, 2011 in Saint-Paul-de-l'�le-aux-Noix, Quebec. Thousands of homes along the river are still flooded as the water slowly begins to recede.
Reginald Bouchard makes his way along a street immersed in flood waters in the town of Ste-Anne-de-Sabrevois, Que., south of Montreal, Saturday, April 30, 2011.
A man and woman wade through flood waters at a campground just outside the town of Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., Sunday, May 8, 2011.
Canadian armed forces personnel unload sandbags at a house immersed in flood waters in the town of Saint-Blaise-Sur-Richelieu, Que., Sunday, May 8, 2011.
Police and firefighters work with Canadian soldiers wade in a flooded street along the Richelieu River as they check on residents, Monday, May 9, 2011 in Saint-Paul-de-l'�le-aux-Noix, Quebec.
A home is seen partially submerged as floodwaters slowly rise in Turner, Arkansas May 10, 2011. The Mississippi River may have reached its highest level at Memphis early on Tuesday just inches below the all-time record.
Farm workers carry sandbags as they try protect a home close to where the province plans to break the dike southeast of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, May 10, 2011. Manitoba will take the drastic step of breaking its dikes on the flooded Assiniboine River, swamping a vast swath of farmland in the Canadian Prairie province and displacing hundreds more people to avoid worse flooding.
Crews set up an Aqua dam on top of the southern dike of the Assiniboine River in Brandon, Manitoba on Monday, May 9, 2011. The high water levels of the Assiniboine River are threatening surrounding communities.
Cars stand submerged in overflow water from the Wolf River on McMiller Road in Memphis, Tenn. on Tuesday, May 10, 2011. After weeks of rising to historic levels the Mississippi River reached a crest just shy of the forecasted 48 feet at the Memphis gauge.
Heavy equipment works 24 hours a day to shore up the walls of the Portage Diversion on Tuesday May 10, 2011 in Winnipeg. The diversion is full to capacity running towards Lake Manitoba.
Sherry Rose walks through floodwaters in front of her home in Holly Grove, Arkansas May 10, 2011. The Mississippi River may have reached its highest level at Memphis early on Tuesday just inches below the all-time record.
A sign is seen on a road as floodwaters slowly rise in Holly Grove, Arkansas May 10, 2011. The Mississippi River may have reached its highest level at Memphis early on Tuesday just inches below the all-time record.