Persistent rainfall (nearly 300 percent normal precipitation amounts in the Ohio Valley) combined with melting snowpack caused historical flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Estimated economic losses range from $3-4 billion. The high flood risk along the Mississippi River was highlighted in the National Weather Service's annual spring flood outlook, and the agency closely coordinated with local, state and federal agencies before and during the flooding, so that emergency officials could make important decisions to best protect life and limit property damage.