Sikeston, Mo., May 4, 2011 – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects to open the final crevasse in the levee Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway Project levee soon.
“Historical record elevations within the Mississippi and Ohio river systems, technical issues and weather conditions have prevented the Corps from arming the third levee at Hickman,” Maj. Gen. Michael J. Walsh, President of the Mississippi River Commission said.
Walsh said public safety is the Corps’ highest priority and that all resources are being used to battle the effects of this flooding. This includes the safety of engineers and technicians working on the project.
“There will be an operational pause. Personnel working in the field have been working around the clock in driving rain storms and winds up to 50 miles per hour. We are also working on receiving more of the blasting agent. It will be loaded into the pipes and the final section of the levee will be breached,” Walsh said.
“This area will continue to experience high water as the projects north of this location release water from those systems and we expect the rivers to be elevated for several weeks,” Walsh said.
“The flood fight will not stop here, the entire system is experiencing flooding and we will continue our fight downstream.” Walsh said. “A flood brings everyone together—that is— when we Americans work together.”
Release no. 11-17