Triumph Foods said March 22 it is suspending operations due to an unexpected rise in the water level of the Missouri River that resulted in a mandatory evacuation ordered by officials, effective immediately. The plant processes 21,400 hogs daily.

“We are currently coordinating with local officials and following an orderly shutdown protocol to effectively stop operations while ensuring the safety of all employees and livestock,” Triumph Foods said in a news release. “We will be monitoring the changes in river level and information from authorities and hope to resume operations for Saturday, March 23.”

Both St. Joseph and Buchanan counties in Missouri issued a mandatory evacuation of areas behind the L-455 levee system on the Missouri side of the river and the area protected by the R-471/460 levee on the Kansas side. The crest was forecasted to reach 32 ft. between 1 and 4 p.m. on Friday.

“While the federal levees are in good condition and operating as they should, we must take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of our residents,” the government entities said.

Triumph Foods said sanitation operations will commence immediately following the release of the city’s evacuation order.

“We ask employees to please monitor the company’s social media and local news for up-to-the-minute updates,” Triumph Foods said.