biggest cities in louisiana. but it means tiny communities could soon be under many feet of water. this is what it looked like in 1973. the one and only time the morganza spillway had to be opened. there s no guarantee it will even work. the mississippi river is already dangerously high in new orleans. the army corps of engineers is hoping that by diverting water through two spillways will lower the river level and spare the city. so far, the corps says opening the morganza spillway appears to be having the desired effect. the biggest test is still days away, the highest water, hundreds of miles up river. this is greenville, mississippi, that you re looking at right now. a live report from there, and it is being inundated, straight ahead on cnn. let s get right to ed lavandera who was there when the morganza spillway was opened just about three hours ago. ed, tell us about it. ed lavandera is joining us on the phone. ed, can you hear us? reporter: just a while ago, this is
begin overtopping on monday and the corps of engineers has armor plated the levee and we expect no problems there and we will get water in little towns like valley park, and carrie and that is going to be happening and is expected. reporter: and main population centers, like greenville, according to the levee board, safe for now. back to you, in new york. bill: greenville, mississippi, steve harrigan, thanks. heather? we are getting an early picture of the economic impact of the floods, arkansas alone, 1 million acres under water and damages expected to top $500 million and arkansas grows a big portion of the rice we eat. 45 to 50% of the nation s rice, comes from arkansas. and, eastern arkansas is where it is grown, so, we have lost a big portion of the rice crop. i have abandoned trying to plant my rice, all the ground is flooded now. it will be too late and i have a neighbor that has $2.5 million
partially under water and the people here know floods and built their houses to be safe from floods but never expected anything like this. real job losses, too, about 900 people out, between the casino job losses, as well as barge traffic, has been shut down and, the real concern, though, is this le t that are standing on, right now which looks to be 15 feet above the water level here, is it going to hold? and, hank is from the levee board and, you have a city of 45,000 people there and you are obviously worried. is the levee going to keep them safe. the levee is in great shape, drove the 160 miles and other than seep water, we re in great shape, the integrity is good. reporter: but some areas will be hit with overflow. the south end of the delta we have a levee designed as part of the project, to overtop and will