密西西比河水位達到有史以來第二高點
U.S. weather forecasters say the Mississippi River has risen to its second-highest level ever in the southern state of Tennessee, after unleashing major flooding in low-lying areas. Thousands of residents in several states have evacuated their homes along the Mississippi River as flooding - triggered by rain and melting snow -- has reached levels not seen in decades.
National Weather Service spokesman Christopher Vaccaro told VOA that the river surged above 14.5 meters Tuesday near Memphis - Tennessee's largest city. He said the waterway is projected to continue rising to more than 14.6 meters later in the would be just short of the river's record crest of 14.8 meters more than 70 years ago. Vaccaro says the river is expected to hold steady at this level through Wednesday before gradually receding beginning on Thursday. President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in Tennessee on Monday, ordering federal aid to help state and local recovery efforts in the area. The state was also struck by severe storms and tornadoes last month.美國氣象預報部門說，密西西比河在美國南部的田納西州的水位上升到有史以來第二高點。此前，田納西的低窪地區爆發嚴重洪水。隨着大雨和積雪融化引發的洪水達到幾十年未見的歷史高位，在美國幾個州里，家住密西西比河沿岸的數以千計的居民已經撤離。
美國國家氣象局發言人克里斯托弗.瓦卡羅對美國之音說，星期二，密西西比河在田納西州最大城市孟菲斯附近的水位超過14.5米。他說，這條河的水位預計將在當天晚些時候繼續上升至14.6米以上。這一數字僅僅低於70多年前14.8米高的水位紀錄。瓦卡羅對說，密西西比河預計星期三會穩定保持在這一水位，然後在星期四開始逐漸減退。奧巴馬總統星期一宣佈田納西爲重災區，並下令發放聯邦救援物資以幫助田納西和該地區地方政府進行災後恢復的努力。田納西州上個月還遭到強烈的風暴和龍捲風的襲擊。
