Dear Folks: Not all of you may have been Forum subscribers when my review of _Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America_ appeared in August 1997. With events in the news sounding eerily familiar on many levels, I would suggest to those so inclined that they (re-)read the review, borrow the book through their local library, and/or buy the book at http://www.yorku.ca/twainweb/bookstore/, a portion of which benefits the Mark Twain Project. (Having made that commercial plug, let me add this altruistic note: While one's wallet is open, one should also consider donating to the emergency relief efforts via the charity of one's choice.) The first of the Mississippi Delta levee breaks, in 1927, occurred on the 17th anniversary of Mark Twain's death, and it was all downhill from there. The review describes the human maelstrom that ensued: http://www.yorku.ca/twainweb/reviews/barry-01.html This review was selected by Tulane University in 2002 as part of the recommended reading for students in advance of a lecture that Fall by the book's author, John M. Barry. Reported on the news today is the fact that due to present conditions, Tulane is closed indefinitely.... Regards, Mary Leah Christmas