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04 May 2011 09:58

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U.S.: States struggle to handle Mississippi River’s rising floodwaters

  • We’re making a lot of unfortunate history here in Mississippi in April and May.
  • Mississippi Emergency Management Agency spokesman Jeff Rent • Putting a pretty unfortunate period on the end of the sentence that is the Mississippi River’s flooding — along with last week’s tornadoes. All along the Misssissippi River, floodwaters are reaching record levels, putting some in precarious situations — or forcing some necessary but undesirable decisions, like blowing holes in levees that flood crops but save towns. source

03 May 2011 09:41

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U.S.: Birds Point levee blast eases pressure on Mississippi River

  • cause In a controversial move that may have saved a town but Missouri fought against in court (claiming it would hurt farms), officials started blowing holes in the Birds Point levee last night.
  • effect Since the initial blast, the Mississippi River’s level at Cairo, Illinois has gone down a solid foot, lowering the pressure and possibly ensuring that the town may avoid a massive flood. source