WASHINGTON, DC— Two major efforts to bolster the health of the Mississippi River were announced today during a Capitol Hill briefing by members of Congress and Mayors whose towns, cities, districts and states are touched by the River, according to the Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative (MRCTI), a recently formed mayoral-led effort to create a coordinated voice for the Mississippi River.

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are partnering to improve public awareness for National Flood Safety Awareness Week, March 18-22, 2013. The agencies' goal is to improve understanding about flood risk among individuals, families, businesses and communities. Knowledge and the right precautions can protect families, homes and finances.

For More information on the above FEMA News Release go to, http://www.fema.gov/news-release/2013/03/15/fema-and-noaa-promote-national-flood-safety-awareness-week.

The National Weather Service Jackson Office has prepared a pdf booklet, to download go to the following link: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jan/?n=flood_awareness_week.

For local Vicksburg Flood Hazard information you may access related documents on this website by going to "Library" - "Docs & Forms" then clicking on the "Inspections and Planning" folder to view the list of documents to download, i.e.  "A Citizens Guide to Flood Protection", "Warren County Flood Hazards" and other related documents.

Flood Hazard map information is also accessible through the City's GIS Geoportal after reading the GIS disclaimer.

For areas inside the City Limits, you may also contact the Building & Inspections Floodplain Manager at 601-634-4528 or the Warren County Emergency Management Floodplain Manager at 601-636-1544 for locations outside the city limits.

The City of Vicksburg and the Vicksburg Municipal Court are proud to announce that court fines and traffic tickets can now be paid online or by phone.

Vicksburg City Pool's 2013 Summer American Red Cross Learn to Swim Registration will be held:

Wednesday, May 15, - 10 am - 1 pm
Thursday, May 16, 10 am - 1 pm
Friday, May 17, , 10 am - 1 pm
Saturday, May 18, 10 am - 1 pm

City of Vicksburg Water and Gas customers have another option to pay their utility bills. Beginning today, bills may be paid through an automated telephone system. This option joins other convenient ways for paying the bills including via the city website, automatic bank draft, and automatic credit card payments. Customers may also choose paperless billing and receive their bills via email.

Mayor Paul E. Winfield will address the citizens of Vicksburg on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, in his annual State of the City Address. The event will be held at the Vicksburg Convention Center located at 1600 Mulberry Street, Vicksburg MS, and begin promptly at 6 p.m. This event is open to the public and all citizens are encouraged to attend.

Vicksburg has been named by AAA Southern Traveler and AAA Midwest Traveler as one of the top 13 places to visit in 2013. Other destinations named include Christchurch, New Zealand, the Dominican Republic, Ireland, Mexico, Orlando, Panama, San Francisco, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Las Vegas.

This year brings lots of excitement to Vicksburg with Civil War sesquicentennial commemoration events. Events start in April with Tapestry: The Pilgrimage to Vicksburg and the Vicksburg Heritage Fair and continue until July 4, the anniversary of the Siege of Vicksburg's surrender.

The Vicksburg Main Street Program is looking for "krewes" who wish to participate in Downtown Vicksburg's 12th annual Mardi Gras Parade. The parade will be held Saturday, February 9, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. in Downtown Vicksburg.

The parade begins at Washington and Belmont streets and will travel North on Washington Street to Jackson Street. The cost is $25 for non-profits and $50 for businesses.

The boil water advisory that was issued after a power outage at the water treatment plant has been lifted. Test results of the water samples showed no contaminants.