Army Corps decides to blow up Missouri levee

Monday, May 2, 2011

By JIM SUHR and JIM SALTER

SIKESTON, Mo. (AP) — The Army Corps of Engineers plans to go ahead with plans to blast open an earthen levee in Missouri in a desperate bid to protect the Illinois town of Cairo (KAY-row) from the raging Mississippi River.

The demolition could reduce water levels surrounding Cairo but will completely flood a prime patch of Missouri farmland.

The agency confirmed its plans Monday afternoon, but it was not immediately clear when the blast would take place.

Five more inches of rain fell over the weekend, putting new strains on the flood wall protecting the town, which sits precariously at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Even more rain was in the forecast.

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muleman 2 years ago

Acording to yesterdays news Cairo is already flooded and has been evacuated. Give me one good reason to blow the levee, it wont save any lives. but will do a lot of damage to land, equipment, buildings, and incomes of those behind the levee. Seems to me that Illinois should build a levee to protect its towns instead of letting Missourians suffer from their neglect.

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