Skip to main content
Tags: Severe Weather | Flooding

Corps Breaks Levee to Save Illinois Town

Tuesday, 03 May 2011 06:56 AM EDT

WYATT, Mo.— A few momentary blasts, flashes of orange light, and the Mississippi River began pouring through a wide hole in a Missouri levee.

The Army Corps of Engineers blew the Birds Point levee open Monday night in the hope of saving the small Illinois town of Cairo.

Even as the corps' breached the levee, floodwaters are rising downriver, including in Memphis, Tenn. And this effort isn't expected to ease those flooding concerns.

Blowing up the levee sacrificed 130,000 acres of rich farmland and about 100 homes in Missouri to spare the Illinois town of 2,800 residents that is at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.

Corps officials say the breach should reduce water levels in Cairo by up to 4 feet by late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.

US
WYATT, Mo. A few momentary blasts, flashes of orange light, and the Mississippi River began pouring through a wide hole in a Missouri levee.The Army Corps of Engineers blew the Birds Point levee open Monday night in the hope of saving the small Illinois town of Cairo.Even...
Severe Weather,Flooding
130
2011-56-03
Tuesday, 03 May 2011 06:56 AM
Newsmax Media, Inc.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved