Abstract
The paper discusses how the Great Mississippi River Flood of 1993, also known as the Great Flood of 1993, is considered unparalleled in magnitude, extent and impact and was possibly the costliest and most devastating flood to ever impact the U.S. The paper reveals that fifty deaths were reported and the total damage cost was estimated at $20 billion. The paper looks closely at the damage sustained by the land, plants, birds and animals.

From the Paper
"This record flooding occurred from May to September 1993 across North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin and Illinois (Larson 1996). Its magnitude and severity were so overwhelming that the Flood ranks as one of the greatest natural disasters to hit the US. Around 600 river forecast points in the Midwest were above the flood stage all at the same time. It affected almost 150 major rivers and tributaries. Fifty flood deaths were reported (Larson). Causes or factors of the Great Flood were attributed the saturation of soils and increased stream levels in the fall of 1992, the snowpack in the central US, heavy rainfall in late March, the saturation of the northern ends of the Missouri River and an unusually persistent weather pattern from June to early August (Larson)."

Tags:levees, tributaries, species, disaster

Abstract
Through a study of the history of the geologic structures of the Mississippi River and delta, man's influence on the river, and the current state of the Mississippi River Delta, this paper attempts to present a balanced picture of the recently catastrophic subsidence of the region. The paper emphasizes the delta's relative sustainability and stability before human cohabitation with the delta and the subsequent deterioration of deltaic environments. The paper includes pictures and diagrams of deltas.

Outline:
Introduction
Geologic Structures of the Mississippi River and Delta
Development of the Mississippi River Delta
Human Involvement Regarding the Delta
History of Human Intervention in the Delta

From the Paper
"Mississippi River deposits of the Holocene epoch are products of a drainage basin that covers close to 70% of the contiguous States of America, as well as 2 provinces of Canadai. Deposition in the region of the current delta began around 7000-8000 years ago after the slowing of the rise of sea levels from the melting of the Pleistocene Glacial Maximum. However, it was not until 6000 years ago that deposition began to resemble that of the contemporary delta. At 3000 years ago, the conditions in which the delta formed were similar to conditions today: the inner gulf was at a standstill, the river possessed the necessary velocity to move a delta's worth of sediment, and the Gulf was of the proper depth and grade for the formation of a delta. ii In light of the concrete distinction between Pliestocene deposits, Holocene deposits before the stabilization of ocean levels, and late Holocene deposits similar to present day deposition, my study will focus on a more contemporaneous subset of Mississippi delta deposits beginning at c.6000 years past."

Tags:Geology, Mississippi, Mississippi River, Mississippi River Delta, Subsidence, Deltaic lobes, avulsion, barrier islands, erosion, marine, wetland loss, Louisiana, Delta History, Overview, Summary, Lacustrine, Progradation, economic impact

Abstract
This paper uses John Barry's book "Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How it Changed America" to examine the political impact of the flood. It looks at how Herbert Hoover used the flood as an example of his stewardship by helping the black victims of the flood. It also looks at how that after heavy lobbying in Washington and many Congressional hearings, flood control legislation was signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge, who initially opposed using federal money for the rebuilding of Mississippi River areas devastated by the floods.

From the Paper
"Yet another impact the flood had on America was the decline of New Orleans, which according to Barry was severe. The city "decayed" after the flood, even though prior to the flood New Orleans had "...vastly more economic activity than any city in the South" (411). The city "shrank" and while banks prospered in Memphis, Dallas, and Atlanta, banks in New Orleans - even up to today - were never able to rebound from the flood. Even today - resulting from both the flood of 1927 and from the 2006 effects of Hurricane Katrina - New Orleans struggles. Barry waffles a little on page 411, saying that New Orleans has become a place for "tourists, and picture postcards" but has no economic vitality. "Perhaps all of this had nothing to do with the 1927 flood," he writes. "Or perhaps it did." How can he possibly question the facts presented in his own narrative? "

Tags:Calvin, Coolidge, Herbert, Hoover

Abstract
This paper explains the historical and geographical importance of the Mississippi River. It looks at the symbolic nature of the river as being the separation point between East and West. The paper focuses on the early history of the river and looks at the Native Americans who lived nearby.

From the Paper
"The Mississippi River is one of the world's great rivers. It is the longest river in the United States, more than twenty-three hundred miles in length, as it forms the borders of ten states, almost bisecting the continent (Currie,2003, 8). The river has a long history as well, and it has touched the lives of many people. The Mississippi is said to begin at Lake Itasca in Minnesota. In 1832, explorer Henry Schoolcraft named this lake, not after any local Indian name, but from the Latin words for "true head" which are veritas caput shortened to "Itasca" (Currie, 2003, 4). However, long before its source was named it was a navigational river."

Tags:indian, culture, east, west

Abstract
The paper explores the strategies that led to the battle of Vicksburg that raged on the Mississippi. The paper relates that the battle for Vicksburg is considered one of the pivotal clashes of the Civil War, mainly because it was such a strategic spot on the river. The paper explains that it also dealt a blow to the Confederacy when it opened up traffic in the Mississippi to Union supplies and troops. The paper concentrates on several aspects of the battle for Vicksburg.

From the Paper
"A book called Grant Wins The War: Decision at Vicksburg goes into great detail about the city of Vicksburg, and the fight for the city on the Mississippi River. As far as fortifications against attacks, Vicksburg had a natural advantage; the high ground east of the city was a serious of bluffs, up to 260 feet high. With powerful cannons positioned heavily on those bluffs, it made it very problematic for the northern naval forces to make it past, either from the south or north. In addition to the high bluffs, there was a sharp bend in the river right at that point; "naval guns could not elevate sufficiently to engage batteries along the blufftops," Arnold writes on page 14. The rebels had "two heavy batteries," a four-gun battery on the highest ground, and 50 feet above the river another battery."

Tags:Union, Confederacy, Grant, Johnson, troops

Abstract
This paper discusses the origins and development of Mississippi music - that is, jazz and the blues. It discusses why these forms of music orginated around the Mississippi River and how they have become known as American music. The paper also discusses specific blues and jazz performers and how music has the opportunity to blur the lines of racial segregation.

From the Paper
"While it may be a socially PC generalization, this idea of blurring the racial gulf may be one major contribution of Mississippi music to the social fabric of the U.S. While many black jazz performers ended up in Europe where they received not only acclaim but more social acceptance of their color, the opening up of opportunities for black as well as white performers gives some stature to Mississippi music. In short, Mississippi music proved to be the gateway for fame- as records and radio and TV broke the color barrier."

Tags:society, performers, recordings

Abstract
The paper discusses how on August 1, 2007, the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota, collapsed, sending cars, drivers, and construction workers to their deaths. The paper focuses on the ethical issues involved with this collapse and relates that the bridge was known to have flaws, was actually deemed "structurally deficient," and yet, the bridge was allowed to remain open. Further, the paper reveals that the bridge was already flawed in its design, implicating the design and engineering firms who created it. The paper contends that the nation's infrastructure is crumbling and not enough is being done to stop more accidents from occurring.

From the Paper
"The I-35 West Bridge was constructed in 1967, and inspected regularly thereafter by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The last time it was inspected was in May 2007, where the Department inspectors noted some "weld details," and noted they would continue to inspect the bridge. They did not deem it unsafe. The bridge was rated a 4 out of 9, and the U.S. Department of Transportation website notes, "The 4 rating means that the state can continue to operate the bridge without load restrictions (0= shut down, 9 = perfect)" (Editors). An engineering expert notes, "Until it plunged into the Mississippi River, it served as a transportation lifeline for the growing Twin Cities population, carrying across its 14 spans many of the SUVs, cars and trucks that accounted for the 42 percent rise in Minnesota's vehicle traffic from 1990 to 2003" (Flynn). Thus, it came under increasingly heavy use, it was showing signs of stress and wear, (such as the weakened welds), and it was known it was not a 9 or "perfect" bridge."

Tags:design, structure, flaws, welds, infrastructure

Abstract
This paper focuses on the 1993 flooding of the Mississippi basin, one of the costliest disasters in U.S. history which resulted in catastrophic insurance property claims. This paper explores the various homeowners insurance policies that did not provide coverage as well as the National Flood Insurance Program which underwrites all flood insurance in the U.S. This paper also discusses the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in aiding residents after a natural disaster.

From the Paper
"In 1927 an earlier flood occurred in the lower Mississippi Valley, covering twenty-six thousand square miles of land in as much as fifty-seven feet of water. In response to this natural disaster, the federal government, through the Army Corps of Engineers, dredged the channel, changed the course of the river in places, and built nearly seven thousand miles of levees in an effort to prevent future disasters. But the government's steps to flood prevention sixty-five years earlier were no match for the Mighty Mississippi and the sustained rains the summer of 1993 brought with it."

Tags:nature, disaster, flood, mississippi, finance, insurance, law, government, aid, fema, nfip

Abstract
This paper examines the failure of flood control strategies in the flood of 1927. It discusses the subsequent changes and improvement in strategies. It explores the overflow of the Mississippi River.

Tags:flood, flood control, levees, 1927

Abstract
In this paper the author looks in-depth at the famous book written by Mark Twain,"Life on the Mississippi". The paper examines the life led by people who lived alongside the Mississippi how they would wait for a steamboat to pull up to bring them news and goods. The author looks at Mark Twain as one of the most qualified to know about river life as he grew up in that area. In looking at the book, the author also surmises that life on the river led to the birth of a very different America, one where business and industrialization were advanced.

From the Paper
"As a cub-pilot, Twain became enamored of the technicalities of the work, the sounding, the danger when the river rose, but the chief attraction of the work was that, . . ."a pilot in those days, [i.e., before the Civil War] was the only unfettered and entirely independent human being that lived in the earth." (118) Once under way, the boat was under the unquestioned control of the pilot."

Tags:commerce, econmoic, pilot, river, banks, excursions