FERRIDAY — With cars lining Florida Avenue and Second Street, Ferriday residents flocked to a Ferriday community meeting Thursday for the chance to hear what the town’s elected officials had to say about the water levels of the Mississippi River.

“Should we be concerned about the river level? Yes. It’s the highest water level ever projected,” Ferriday Mayor Glen McGlothin said. “But should you go ahead and pack up and move out tomorrow? No.”

McGlothin said rumors spreading throughout the parish have brought false information to area residents about the river levels.

“If there is a breach in the levees, everyone will know,” he said. “Don’t let this make you crazy.”

McGlothin said many residents are worried that a breach in the levee would cause immediate damage to residents, just like the levees in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit, but that is not the case.

“If something were to happen we would have a couple of days to get everyone together and out of here,” he said. “We have people watching this and prepared to deal with any problems.”

Ferriday town engineer Bryant Hammett also spoke to the crowd about the current status of the levees in the parish.

“There are no indications of a levee breach,” he said. “We have had several meetings with the Corps regarding the levees, and we are in good shape.”

Hammett said from an engineering standpoint, the levee is holding up fine.

“Things are looking better by the hour,” he said. “But it is dynamic, and things can change quickly.”

The projected crest of 64 feet will still leave Concordia Parish’s levees three feet of space with which to work, Hammett said.

“Even at the projected crest height, we would still have that three feet of empty space at the top of the levees,” he said. “That is a very important number.”

Hammett wanted to let Ferriday residents know that someone is watching the levees and the river constantly.

“Rest assured you will know if there is any problem,” he said.

McGlothin said in case of an emergency, an evacuation plan has been set in place that will be available to residents at locations throughout Ferriday, including Town Hall.

Signing up for the Code Red Alert System is also something every Concordia Parish resident needs to do, McGlothin said.

“This tool sends you information right after it happens,” he said. “If you aren’t signed up for this program, you need to be.”

McGlothin said you can sign up for the Code Red alerts by going online to the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s website at http://www.concordiasheriff.org.

Even in the worst-case scenario, McGlothin said Ferriday’s government will continue to run with the help of Adams County.

“We may not have high ground over here, but we do have the Natchez bluffs,” he said. “They have offered us some space to take our equipment and office areas to conduct our business in.”

Adams County Board of Supervisors Darryl Grennell said the county was glad to do anything they can to help out the parish.

“We have been in constant contact with Concordia Parish officials getting things in place,” he said.

“We are going to continue to pray and do anything we can.”

The final words of wisdom McGlothin gave to the crowd were to remember that everyone is in this together. “You must always remember to help your neighbor and look out for each other. We all live here,” he said.

The river was at 53.09 feet as of Thursday afternoon.

Flood stage is 48 feet. The record flood stage for the Miss-Lou is 58.04 feet in 1937.