CHARLESTON, Mo. (AP) - Southeast Missouri farmers whose land is underwater because of last week's levee breach are about to get their first look at the damage.
Mississippi County Sheriff Keith Moore told about 60 people at a special meeting late last week that they can access the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway on Monday.
The Southeast Missourian reports the access from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. will be under strict supervision. Nobody younger than 16 will be allowed onto the floodway and life boats will be required.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers blew holes in the levees May 2 to relieve pressure on communities in Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky, most notably the Illinois community of Cairo upriver.
The action flooded more than 130,000 acres of farmland in Mississippi and New Madrid counties.
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Information from: Southeast Missourian, http://www.semissourian.com