**NOT FOR BROADCAST**
Contact Brett Adair with Live Storms Media to license.
brett@livestormsnow.com
Heavy rains through the winter season has caused the Ross Barnett Reservoir, fed by the flooded Pearl River, to reach abnormally high volumes. In order to prevent catastrophic failure of the dam structure, controlled releases of water through the spillway are ongoing resulting in increased flooding along the Pearl River basin down stream. Structures and roads are becoming flooded as fast moving water moves from the Reservoir. Additional higher flow volumes are predicted by the National Weather Service office in Jackson, Mississippi and more roads and structures, including some in downtown Jackson, will become flooded by the weekend. With additional rains expected, the situation is only expected to deteriorate.