Isle of Capri Casino at Natchez Closed by Flood Concerns
Natural disasters are disrupting normal casino operations in Mississippi again. Less than three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, destroying casinos anchored there and leveling buildings along the water's edge, flooding on the Mississippi River has closed a local casino.
The Isle of Capri Casino at Natchez, Mississippi, along the river, was shut down at 3 a.m. Sunday morning as a precautionary move. Floodwaters from the torrential rains northward in the river valley up to Missouri and Illinois have caused a potentially dangerous rise in river levels.
The casino's closing was at the agreement of city officials and Isle of Capri management, although the shutdown of the casino was effectively decided when city engineers recommended closing the dock to which the boat is anchored.
Natchez will keep the casino out of operation until after the river waters have crested. That may be later this week, although new rains have caused more flooding in the St. Louis area.
Jack Sours, the casino's general manager, said employees would continue to be paid. He did note that closing the casino creates a financial hardship for both the casino and the city.
