GETTING AND PLUS MAYBE EVEN SOME RECORD HEAT ON THE WAY. NOW WITH THAT RISING HEAT, WE’RE ALSO SEEING OUR WATERS RISING HAPPENING NOW. SOME SPECIAL INSPECTIONS ARE GOING ON ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER LEVEES AS WATER REACHES ITS PEAK LEVEL TODAY, WDSU’S ELIZABETH KUEBEL IS SHOWING US JUST HOW HIGH THAT GAGE IS RIGHT NOW AND WHY THIS MAKES IT ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE. I WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS GAUGE RIGHT HERE. THIS IS ONE OF THE TOOLS THAT THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAS TO MEASURE MISSISSIPPI RIVER LEVELS. YOU CAN SEE THAT TODAY IT IS COMING IN AT 12.4FT. THAT IS THE HIGHEST THAT IT HAS BEEN ALL SEASON AS IT NOW REACHES ITS PEAK. IT’S THE HIGHEST I’VE SEEN IT. JERRY CUMMINGS WOULD BE ABLE TO TELL HE HAS BEEN COMING TO FISH RIGHT HERE ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI BEHIND THE AUDUBON ZOO FOR 300 DAYS IN A ROW. THE PEOPLE AT THE ZOO TALKED ABOUT NAMING THAT PLACE OVER THERE JERRY’S GAZEBO. BECAUSE I’M THERE SO MUCH. AND WHEN THE RIVER HE FREQUENTS REACHES A HIGHER LEVEL LIKE THIS OF 11FT AND ABOVE THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS STARTS SPECIAL PATROLS. WHEN THE WATER GETS HIGHER, THAT’S WHEN YOU’RE FACING TIMES WHERE THE WATER IS NOT NORMALLY AGAINST THE LEVEE SYSTEM. AND SO IT’S IMPERATIVE THAT WE SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING AS IT’S HAPPENING NOW TWICE A WEEK SINCE EARLIER THIS MONTH, CREWS HAVE BEEN DOING EXTRA INSPECTIONS OF HUNDREDS OF MILES OF LEVEES. WITH THE HIGHER RIVER LEVELS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOW BEING PUT TO WORK. SO THE CORPS WANTS TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT. THE KEY THAT WE’RE WE’RE DOING WITH WITH THE LEVEE INSPECTIONS IS WE’RE LOOKING FOR THE LITTLE THINGS. MAYBE THERE’S A LITTLE CRACK AND THE SLOPE PAVING, MAYBE WE FIND WHERE AN ARMADILLO HAS BURROWED INTO THE LEVEE. WE WANT TO FIX THEM WHILE THEY’RE LITTLE SO THEY DON’T BECOME BIGGER. AND THE CORPS WILL KEEP DOING THOSE TWICE A WEEK INSPECTIONS UNTIL YOU SEE THAT GAUGE RIGHT THERE. GO BACK DOWN UNDER 11FT. THAT IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN IN JUNE. REPORTING ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI. I’M ELIZABETH KUEBEL WDSU NEWS. NOW, WE SHOULD ALSO ADD THAT SEPARATELY, THE ARMY CORPS IS ALSO MONITORING THE SHORELINE RIGHT IN FRONT OF A KENNER LEVEE, WHICH IS NEAR THE WOODLAKE SUBDIVISION. THIS IS WHERE THEY SAY STORM SURGE FROM HURRICANE ZETA CAUSED EROSION. REMEMBER THAT STORM? YEAH, THE CORPS IS WORKING ON A NEW DESIGN TO MAKE REPAIRS. BUT RIGHT NOW, LEADERS SAY THAT THEY’RE PRETTY CONFIDENT IT’S STILL GOING TO PERFORM AS DESIGNED.