Mississippi River Basin communities launch new disaster relief effort

Water covers a portion of Owl Hoot Road and part of a house in Ridgely, Tenn. on April 9, 2025 following 96 hours of heavy rain that caused the Obion River to overflow. (Photo: Cassandra Stephenson)

Mayors from cities and towns along the Mississippi River are taking action on natural disaster response. Last week they launched a new initiative to improve immediate disaster relief. They’re also lobbying lawmakers to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative, a cooperative of more than 100 river communities between Minnesota and Louisiana, held its annual meeting last week in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. The mayoral gathering came on the heels of the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and after months of threats from President Donald Tr