The Mississippi River at Natchez reached one of its highest levels in recorded history Saturday.

And virtually nothing happened — fortunately.

On the Natchez side of our community most residents live high above any threat of flooding short of a flood of Biblical proportions.

In Louisiana, however, the safety and security of the community largely rest in the hands of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the regional levee board and local and state leaders.

Despite near-record high water levels coming at an unusual time of the year, the flood was one that our area was ready and waiting for should it have arrived in full force.

The 2011 record floods gave our area’s leaders and engineers plenty of preparation to be fully ready and calm about this year’s high water.

Residents, too, seemed to take the rising tide in stride with virtually none of the panic that set in during 2011. That’s a testament to the trust residents place in those rare folks who understand and study the river’s dynamics and work hard to keep the nation’s mightiest river under control.

Thankfully we dodged a bullet this year, but had that bullet found its mark, we have no doubts our community would have been safe and secure.