Cairo Vs. Mississippi County

[Wayne SW/MO]

I voted no, towns have been moved out of flood plains before and in overall cost it's a cheaper fix.

[Guest P. owensby]

You are reading way more into this than what is printed. He was a presidential appointee but does not work for the White House. He works for the US Army Corps of Engineers. If Bush would have appointed him do you think that he would take orders from Bush?

What you are trying to say is like saying that if the president appoints a judge to a federal bench, then all decisions that judge makes are directly from the president. Thats just total BS.

Here is another example of you being a

[Danoinark]

I am not going to spend my time editing this one either, so lets not be disrespectful and begin the name calling or I will shut this one down too.

[jdmidwest]

If it were not for the Corps of Engineers levee, the owners of the farmland would not have been able to enjoy the years of profits they have enjoyed as a result of the good farmland that they have used. But, as a landowner, we only rent our land from the Federal Government, ultimately, it can be taken as they wish. The burst point was designed into the levee, the New Madrid "Spillway" has been improved in the past few years. Common sense shows the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

But, if I owned a place in the area, I would probably be sniping a certain barge right now waiting for a big boom.

It really goes to prove the fact, we only "rent" our land from the Government, we never really own it.

[hank franklin]

I agree in general. You might "own" the land behind the levee, but you owe your existence to the federal government. Limbaugh's decision essentially was an affirmation of that. It is clearly the Corps' call.

From what I've read I think it would be a travesty to blow the MO levees. Cairo flood wall holds to 64 feet, the Ohio is expected to crest at 61.5. Yes that is precious little freeboard but still, you only need an inch or two. What do you gain by blowing the levee, two feet, three feet? If that? I don't know, but Cairo is already dealing with a huge sand boil and there's no guarantee Cairo will hold no matter what you do. The MO levee meanwhile appears solid and not in danger of a breach.

Major General Michael Walsh needs to trust the levees. That's all you can do.

[hank franklin]

Unfortunately with more rain tonight the pressure on Walsh to blow will increase. Yikes.

The "easy" decision in some way would be to blow the levee. You can cite the big book that says it's been in the Corps planning all these years. Everyone on the MO side knew the circumstances. Sorry fellas, bill has come due.

Also, from a legal standpoint "not blowing" would be hard to defend. Attorney: Mr. Walsh the paper says right here you designed this system to blow! River at record level at Cairo and you didn't blow! Why?

But that in my mind is just hiding behind the paperwork. Just because the manual says so doesn't make it right.

Walsh's response: All I knew fer sure yer honor was I was flooding Missourah. I had no guarantee Kay-ro would hold. I knew Kay-ro might fall, but then it might not. I took my chances yer honor. Win some lose some.

[flytyer57]

I don't know, but Cairo is already dealing with a huge sand boil and there's no guarantee Cairo will hold no matter what you do. The MO levee meanwhile appears solid and not in danger of a breach.

That's what I'm talking about? Why destroy the lives uf others to save others?

If they blow the MO levee, and the levees around Cairo don't hold, then what good would it have done to blow the levees in MO and destroy their lives?

If your house is flooding, do you dig a ditch to your neighbors house to save yours? Or do you just get out and hope your neighbor will be ok?

[Outside Bend]

It's true Cairo wouldn't exist without the levees, it's also true the farmland wouldn't exist without the levees, or the ditches and diversions constructed in the southeast Lowlands in the early 1900's. It's a moot point.

We have to do the best with the cards we're dealt, and to me it seems flooding cropland in Missouri would be a better bet than flooding homes in Illinois.

[hank franklin]

That's what I'm talking about? Why destroy the lives uf others to save others?

If they blow the MO levee, and the levees around Cairo don't hold, then what good would it have done to blow the levees in MO and destroy their lives?

If your house is flooding, do you dig a ditch to your neighbors house to save yours? Or do you just get out and hope your neighbor will be ok?

On these points we agree. The levees were built to withstand Ma Nature to the best of our ability. Just let em be.

Some guys with the Corps way back when said ya know, if we blow this here levee at Mussipy County it'd take the pressure off points further downstream.

His boss said Sounds good to me son, put it in the plan.

So it's been in the plan.

Doesn't make it right.

[Outside Bend]

If your house is flooding, do you dig a ditch to your neighbors house to save yours? Or do you just get out and hope your neighbor will be ok?

Would you go along with a plan to flood and destroy your home and belongings in order to save the vacant lot across the street?