‘Prayer for the Pumps’ event featured fellowship, fish and a surprise guest

Residents of the South Delta are putting their faith in God to deal with the devastation and the heartbreak of the months-long Yazoo backwater flood.

U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith spent her day offering love and support, and listening a lot, to the victims of the Great Backwater Flood of 2019. Photo by Stormy Deere

People affected by the flood, along with friends and family, gathered together for a “Prayer for the Pumps” event this afternoon at the Valley Park Elevator. The community gathering included fellowship and a fish fry. 

The event was sponsored and food donated by Brad Craddock, Tracy Hardin, Bobby Jones, Lonnie Boykin, David Seller, Perry Boyd, First Baptist Church of Rolling Fork, Valley Park Elevator and Kinder Morgan.

“People are hurting,” Craddock said about why they held the event. “Their spirits are down, and we just wanted to lift people up.”

Making a surprise appearance was U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.  Hyde-Smith spoke to the crowd giving encouragement and reassuring flood victims she’s fighting for the Yazoo Backwater Basin permanent pumps. “I haven’t forgotten about you. I will not give up,” she said. “I am not and will not quit until we get those pumps.”

This is day 133 of flooding in the Yazoo Backwater Basin covering more than 550,000 acres of land in the South Delta.