So you can tell the difference between the ones on either side of it. reporter: for families in low lying neighborhoods, disaster is already at their doorstep and well beyond. you have to think of the human element as you come through here. you know that each of these homes that you re passing by, there s a family that has been forever changed because of this. reporter: along the state s flood zone, more than 3,000 people have evacuated 37 on saturday, debra emery built this dirt levee around her house hoping to block the rising water. we just decided that it was up to us. if we didn t save our house, nobody else would. it was our house. reporter: she discovered her make shift levee broke. it s a devastating loss. something my husband and i worked for all our lives. and now we have to start over. it s a heart wrenching situation and a true disaster. and my heart goes out to everyone who is directly affected. reporter: the safety of the entire delta region is riding on
good evening. floodgates were opened this weekend that will intentionally flood thousands of homes for the sake of saving bigger places like baton rouge and new orleans. it was an awful kind of choice for the government to make. then again, this is a record amount of water we re talking about here. epping flooding along the most vital river in the country. by tonight, 11 separate flood gates on the big morganza spillway will be open and flowing. it spreads out from there downstream in louisiana where 25,000 people live in its potential path. over 3 million acres of land, 13,000 structures. in all, the homeowners must now evacuate and wait. the government saved some big cities from catastrophe while launching thousands of personal tragedies across the state. we have two reports on this tonight beginning with anne thompson in melville, louisiana anne, good evening. reporter: good evening, brian. people here in melville are bracing for this manmade flood. the result of a choic
gingrich s comments on meet the press. plus, what happens when two college baseball teams are forced to sit through a rain delay? things get medieval. we ll have the winners of this ncaa jousting match just ahead. but first let s get to the news. thousands of residents in louisiana are on high alert as water continues to gush from the morganza spillway. a total of 11 floodgates are now open with rather rushing at an estimated rate faster than that of niagara falls. 25,000 people live in the flood s potential path. over 3 million acres of land and 13,000 structures in all sit there. tom truong is in vicksburg with more on the devastation. reporter: 1400 homes and businesses are expected to be flooded as the mississippi river surpasses levels set back in 1927. this home is elevated. so you can tell the difference between the ones on either side of it. reporter: for families in low lying neighborhoods, disaster is already at their doorstep and well beyond. you have to