Great Mississippi Flood of 1927

The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 was a major natural disaster when heavy rains caused the Mississippi River to overflow its banks, flooding over 27,000 square miles across several states. Thousands of people, mostly poor African Americans and sharecroppers, lost homes and belongings, facing displacement and hardship. The flood prompted large-scale government relief efforts and led to significant changes in flood control policies, including the construction of dams and levees. It remains one of the most destructive floods in U.S. history, highlighting issues of racial inequality and the need for improved infrastructure to manage natural river systems.