VIDALIA — On Aug. 6, the Mississippi River stage at Natchez dropped below the 48-foot flood stage for the first time since Jan. 4.

The river was above flood stage for a record of 213 days, far surpassing the previous record of 77 days set in 1927.

Now that the river level has dropped Vidalia has been able to assess some of the damage, such as potholes and sinkholes, caused by the high water, said Buz Craft, mayor of Vidalia

“It feels great. It feels wonderful,” Craft said of being back below flood stage. “We’ve been mobilizing everything and trying to make repairs.”

Craft said the town is assessing damage and plans to apply for state and federal funding, “not only to fix what happened but to also mitigate future problems.”

Craft said town crews were able to remove sand bags and Hesco baskets from the Vidalia riverfront and fire department crews went out and sprayed sand and mud off the parking lots.

“We are finally getting grass cut,” Craft said.

Craft asked residents to call the Town Hall if they find any flood-related damage that needs repairing.

The river is projected to continue to fall through Aug. 22, and Craft said he is hopeful the river will not rise above flood stage again this year.

“Not unless we were really to have big rain event or tropical storm come and sit on us,” Craft said of the potential for the river to rise to flood stage.

Meanwhile, on the Natchez side of the river, city officials on Aug. 1 were able to reopen portions of Silver Street Under the Hill that had been blocked off for months due to the flood stage.

Adams County Board of Supervisor Attorney Scott Slover said county officials did not anticipate much damage from the flooding.

“The only damage we’ll have is that we will have to re-grade Carthage Point Road,” Slover said, adding the county has to repair that road after every flood. “It usually costs about $30,000.”

Slover said county road crews do the work and the county has access to fill dirt. The expense comes from heavy equipment rental.