The Mississippi River flows through North America and is the Chief River to the largest drainage system in North America. The river is prone to serious flooding and severe floods which, on average, occur every 3 years. The 1927 flood was one of the worst floods. The biggest changes that occurred after the flood were improved flood control systems put in place by the government. Sediments from the river washed inland making the surrounding areas and affected areas rich and fertile. The river is also constantly changing shape so the shape of the river changed after flood but not very significantly. Due to the poor treatment of Negro's during the flood, many African-Americans moved from the South of North American to further up North. The treatment also meant the Negro' started to support the opposition party and supported the rise in Herbert Hoover becoming President. The river is divided into three main parts; upper Mississippi, middle Mississippi and lower Mississippi. There are a series of levees throughout the river.
Short Term Response
In response to the 1927 flood of the Mississippi river the army was called in to set up a refugee camp at the levee. The refugee camp ended up
stretching seven miles. People slept in make shift tents, made out of the quilts and blankets they had brought along with them. When the American Red Cross
arrived, tents were handed out to most people. The more experienced people, who had already dealt with floods, stayed in their homes and just raised all the
furniture onto beds and benches to protect them. The Red Cross also handed out typhoid shots and other immunization to protect the people against disease. The African-Americans were instructed to help rebuild the broken levee system. They were told that if they did do the unpaid labour they would stop having access to the food provided by the Red Cross. This unfair treatment raised complaints and was reported to the Associated Negro Press. This lead to a political shift from the party that was in power to the opposition party in support from the African-Americans.
In response to the 1927 flood of the Mississippi river the army was called in to set up a refugee camp at the levee. The refugee camp ended up
stretching seven miles. People slept in make shift tents, made out of the quilts and blankets they had brought along with them. When the American Red Cross
arrived, tents were handed out to most people. The more experienced people, who had already dealt with floods, stayed in their homes and just raised all the
furniture onto beds and benches to protect them. The Red Cross also handed out typhoid shots and other immunization to protect the people against disease. The African-Americans were instructed to help rebuild the broken levee system. They were told that if they did do the unpaid labour they would stop having access to the food provided by the Red Cross. This unfair treatment raised complaints and was reported to the Associated Negro Press. This lead to a political shift from the party that was in power to the opposition party in support from the African-Americans.