When the waters of the Mississippi River broke in April 2011, it created one of the largest and the most damaging floods in the U.S. in the past century. Flooding was caused by two major storm systems that deposited record levels of rainfall on the Mississippi River watershed. When that additional water combined with the springtime snowmelt, the river and many of its tributaries began to swell and spill over. Certain areas were inundated with 20-30 feet of water, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of homes in areas along the Mississippi and the Yazoo River. Many decided to stay put, building dykes around their houses instead and creating tiny island homes. As the stunning aerial images below show, those who were successful were left with their own islands — homes isolated on all sides by the seemingly endless waters of the Mississippi. For those who opted to build a levee, they say it was worth it to keep their homes intact.
