1-evacuate 撤离

Officials urged thousands to evacuate as the Pearl River threatening Mississippi with the worst flooding in decades.

2-heed 注意（别人的建议过警告）

3-news conference 新闻发布会

"Please heed these orders and take care of yourself and your loved ones,"Gov. Tate Reeves said at a news conference.

4-anticipate 预期，预估

5-swell 上升

Officials said the Pear River was anticipated to swell to levels that had not been seen in at least 35 years, threatening Jackson, the capital, and other communicate along the river.

6-tornado 龙卷风

7-batter 侵袭

The flooding follows heavy rainfall and tornadoes that have already battered Mississippi.

8-prompt 促使，导致

Fears of the damage to come prompted Mr. Reeves on February 15 to declare a state of emergency.

9-deploy 调动，有效地利用

More than 96,000 sandbags were distributed ahead of the flood, and boat teams and high-water vehicles were ready to be deployed.

10-commite 承诺

11-hold to 信守（诺言）

We committed to allow time for the people downstream to evacuate and prepare, and we will hold to that promise as long as we can.

12-clear out 撤离

13-in the strongest terms 以最严厉的语气

Emergency officials urged residents in the strongest terms to clear out before releases from the reservoir expanded.

14-gravity 局势的严重性

15-hover 徘徊

16-crisp 凉爽的

There were fears threatened residents could be misled about the gravity of the situation by the sunny weather, with clear skies and temperature hovering for much of the day around a crisp 60 degree.