Report Exposes Impact , of Persistent Flooding , Along Mississippi River.br 'The Independent' reports that persistent br flooding along the Mississippi River has br pushed people out of their homes at a 30 br higher rate than the United States as a whole.br The Associated Press released data from br First Street, a risk analysis firm, showing the br impact of flooding on hard-hit communities. .br Dean Klinkenberg, who writes guidebooks and br histories of local Mississippi communities, warns br flooding has slowly chipped away at river culture. .br In 1970, West Alton, Missouri, had br a population of nearly 4,000 people. .br Following major floods in 1973, br 1993 and 2019, the town now has br less than 400 people living there.br All three of the town's churches are now gone. br The remaining homes have had to be elevatedbr to try and protect them from future floods.br According to the data, people tend to br move to a safer place nearby, however, others br choose to leave communities all together. .br The data showed that older residents are more br likely to remain, while in some communities, even br this figure was constrained by high flood risk.br Some riverside towns have benefited br from the Clean Water Act of 1972, br which improved rivers and streams.br Since then, parks were established on br cleaned-up industrial areas, bringing in br more tourists and attracting business.