Corps: Notices sent to floodway owners

The Memphis district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has mailed notices to individuals who reside in, operate and do business in the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway that the U.S. government can flood the area within the floodway to reduce pressure on the regional flood-control system.

Notices are sent annually and serve as a reminder, according to a news release issued by corps, of their responsibility to minimize environmental contamination if the area is flooded.

The corps said property owners who store or permit storage of hazardous materials, hazardous waste, or naturally occurring radioactive material on their property must take appropriate precautions to prevent their release. Water or gas wells within the floodway must be capped and sealed to prevent contamination from floodwaters, and propane or fuel tanks should be secured or removed before floodway operation.

Public notice will be given if flooding the land becomes necessary.

For more information, contact the corps of engineers public affairs office at 901-544-3005.