• Flooding due to the rise of the Pearl River damages a grave site at Pine Ridge Mission Baptist Church in Copiah County. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • A dog seeks shelter from the floodwater in Copiah County, Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • A home nearly submerged by flooding in Copiah County, Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • A tractor is surrounded by water in on farm land in Rockport, Miss., Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • The back yard of Lana Ashley’s home is covered in floodwater in Rockport, Miss., Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Mark Ashley, left, and Lana Ashley talk about the Pearl River flood and how it is affecting their home in Rockport, Miss., Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Lana Ashley talks about the Pearl River flooding in Rockport, Miss., Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Flood water surrounds a home in Rockport, Miss., Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Sandbags cover the front door of Unity Baptist Church in preparation of the Pearl River flooding in Georgtown, Miss., Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Flood water covers Railroad Avenue in Georgetown, Miss, Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Flood water surrounds a home in Rockport, Miss., Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Flood water surrounds a home in Rockport, Miss., Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • One of many roads closed in Rockport, Miss., due to the Pearl River flooding Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Amanda Berry takes walks through flood water in Rockport, Miss., Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Flood water covers the front lawn of a home in Rockport, Miss., Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • A rooster takes shelter from the flooding in Rockport, Miss., Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Earl Allen discusses the Pearl River flooding in Rockport, Miss., Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • The Pearl River seen from a Rockport bridge Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Rob Pyron, of Pearl River Lumber Yard, walks past flood water near his business in Georgetown, Miss., Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
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Eric J. Shelton was a 2018 corps member in Report for America, and joined the team as our first photojournalist. A native of Columbia, Miss., Eric earned his bachelor’s in photojournalism from the University of Southern Mississippi. He was a multimedia journalist for Abilene Reporter-News, chief photographer for the Hattiesburg American and photo editor for the Killeen Daily Herald before joining our team June 2018. He rejoined Mississippi Today as our health photojournalist in January 2022.