Communities along the southern Mississippi River are bracing for major floods as the swollen river moves downstream.
After days of flooding the river is expected to rise as high as 18 metres.
The flooding has badly affected Memphis and other cities further upstream in Illinois and Missouri.
Gambling in the state of Mississippi has been hit. Nineteen casinos on the riverfront are shut this week.
The National Weather Service said the flood crest has passed Memphis and is expected to move downstream toward New Orleans within the next three weeks.
Tributaries of the Mississippi are also flooded in Arkansas.
