2011 Spring Flooding: Monday, May 2, 2011

A view towards Birds Point levee on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Volunteers Shirley Rodgers, Lisa Kirby and Evelyn Caldwell, from left, assemble sandwiches at the emergency center set up at Egyptian High School in Tamms, Ill., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Kristin Eberts)

Water covers Highway 3 in Olive Branch, Ill., on Monday, May 2, 2011. The rising floodwater covered the road overnight, causing people to be evacuated from the homes along the highway. (Kristin Eberts)

As floodwaters creep closer to the Alexander County Highway Department in Olive Branch, Ill., workers load essential equipment and files into trucks to be taken from the highway building to the emergency center at Egyptian High School on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Kristin Eberts)

Water covers Highway 3 in Olive Branch, Ill., on Monday, May 2, 2011. The rising floodwater covered the road overnight, causing people to be evacuated from the homes along the highway. (Kristin Eberts)

Donated food is available to community members at the emergency center set up at Egyptian High School in Tamms, Ill., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Kristin Eberts)

As floodwaters creep closer to the Alexander County Highway Department in Olive Branch, Ill., workers load essential equipment and files into trucks to be taken from the highway building to the emergency center at Egyptian High School on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Kristin Eberts)

Donated food is available to community members at the emergency center set up at Egyptian High School in Tamms, Ill., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Kristin Eberts)

As floodwaters creep closer to the Alexander County Highway Department in Olive Branch, Ill., workers load essential equipment and files into trucks to be taken from the highway building to the emergency center at Egyptian High School on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Kristin Eberts)

Volunteers work in the kitchen to prepare food at the emergency center set up at Egyptian High School in Tamms, Ill., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Kristin Eberts)

Derek Emerson boats Wappapello, Mo., Postmaster Tiffany Lutes and others, along with the day's mail, across a flooded section of Greenville, Mo., Monday, May 2, 2011. Mail service was still running despite rising waters from nearby Wappapello Lake. (AP Photo/Daily American Republic, Paul Davis)

A sink hole from the Ohio River is seen on Commerce Avenue in Cairo, Ill., Saturday, April 30, 2011. Mayor Judson Childs has issued a mandatory evacutation to residents. (AP Photo/The Paducah Sun, Stephen Lance Dennee)

Inmates from an area prison fill sandbags Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Cairo, Ill. The mayor of the town at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers says that most of the city's remaining residents have heeded a mandatory evacuation order, prompted by river water seeping up through the ground behind a levee. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Nathan Ball, right, stacks filled sandbags in a trailer on Monday, April 25, 2011 in Metropolis, Ill. City workers and volunteers helped fill the bags for distribution around town to curb the rising waters of the Ohio River. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday issued a disaster proclamation following days of heavy rains that triggered widespread flooding in southern Illinois. (AP Photo/The Southern Illinoisan, Alan Rogers)

A deserted Washington Avenue is seen in Cairo, Ill. Sunday, May 1, 2011. The mayor of the town at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in southern Illinois says that most of the city's remaining residents have heeded a mandatory evacuation order, prompted by river water seeping up through the ground behind a levee. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Stan Krushas, left, and Bob Flemming with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency stand atop rock and sandbags around a leak known as a sandboil near a levee as they monitor seepage Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Cairo, Ill. The mayor of the town at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers says that most of the city's remaining residents have heeded a mandatory evacuation order, prompted by river water seeping up through the ground behind a levee. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

A bridge over the Ohio River to Kentucky is closed Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Cairo, Ill. The mayor of the town at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers says that most of the city's remaining residents have heeded a mandatory evacuation order, prompted by river water seeping up through the ground behind a levee. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kyle Bigham walks atop a sandbag wall as he works to protect his home from rising floodwaters Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Olive Branch, Ill. The mayor in nearby Cairo, Ill., says that most of the city's remaining residents have heeded a mandatory evacuation order, prompted by river water seeping up through the ground behind a levee. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Inmates from an area prison load sandbags onto a truck Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Cairo, Ill. The mayor of the town at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers says that most of the city's remaining residents have heeded a mandatory evacuation order, prompted by river water seeping up through the ground behind a levee. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Floodwaters creep towards Illinois 3 on Sunday, May 1, 2011 in Olive Branch, Ill. Volunteers were scrambling to build a sandbag wall to protect homes on the opposite side of the highway. (AP Photo/The Southern Illinoisan, Alan Rogers)

Stan Krushas, left, and Bob Flemming with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency stand atop rock and sandbags around an area of seeping floodwater known as a sandboil, near a levee, as they monitor seepage Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Cairo, Ill. The mayor of the town at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers says that most of the city's remaining residents have heeded a mandatory evacuation order, prompted by river water seeping up through the ground behind a levee. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, left, speaks as Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh, right, with the Army Corps of Engineers listens during a news conference near the Birds Point levee Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Mississippi County, Mo. The Army Corps of Engineers is considering blowing a two-mile hole into the Birds Point levee in southeast Missouri, which would flood 130,000 acres of farmland in Missouri's Mississippi County but protect nearby Cairo, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Dennis Bigham, left, pulls a sandbag out of a boat as he helps Doug Bigham, right, save home from rising floodwaters Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Olive Branch, Ill. The mayor in nearby Cairo, Ill., says that most of the city's remaining residents have heeded a mandatory evacuation order, prompted by river water seeping up through the ground behind a levee. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Doug Bigham stands behind a wall of sandbags protecting his home from rising floodwaters Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Olive Branch, Ill. The mayor in nearby Cairo, Ill., says that most of the city's remaining residents have heeded a mandatory evacuation order, prompted by river water seeping up through the ground behind a levee. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Volunteers hastily work to build a wall of sandbags along Illinois 3 on Sunday, May 1, 2011 in Olive Branch, Ill. Rising floodwaters were only inches from spilling over the opposite side of the highway. Residents hoped the wall would protect homes adjacent to the road, many of which are already surrounded by water on three sides. (AP Photo/The Southern Illinoisan, Alan Rogers)

Inmates from an area prison fill sandbags Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Cairo, Ill. The mayor of the town at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers says that most of the city's remaining residents have heeded a mandatory evacuation order, prompted by river water seeping up through the ground behind a levee. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Janice Bigham, center in orange, stands atop a pile of sandbags as other help her sandbag her flooded home Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Olive Branch, Ill. The mayor in nearby Cairo, Ill., says that most of the city's remaining residents have heeded a mandatory evacuation order, prompted by river water seeping up through the ground behind a levee. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

A tree stands in a field during a torrential rainstorm near the Birds Point levee Sunday, May 1, 2011, near Wilson City, Mo. The Army Corps of Engineers is considering blowing a two-mile hole into the Birds Point levee in southeast Missouri, which would flood 130,000 acres of farmland in Missouri's Mississippi County but protect nearby Cairo, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Army Corps of Engineers' Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh, right, steps to a microphone to answer questions along side Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, left, during a news conference near the Birds Point levee Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Mississippi County, Mo. The Army Corps of Engineers is considering blowing a two-mile hole into the Birds Point levee in southeast Missouri, which would flood 130,000 acres of farmland in Missouri's Mississippi County but protect nearby Cairo, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Illinois 3 remains passable through Olive Branch, Ill. however flood water has taken up most of the rest of the Southern Illinois town Thursday, April 28, 2011. Southern Illinois cities bore up under the prospect of worse flooding along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers Thursday while state officials activated more National Guard troops and ordered 1 million sandbags. (AP Photo/The Southern Illinoisan, Paul Newton)

Alexander County Sheriff's deputies check vehicles as they enter and exit the U.S. 51 tunnel on Sunday, May 1, 2011 in Cairo, Ill. Residents were ordered to evacuate Saturday, and by Sunday evening Mayor Judson Childs estimated 70 percent had left their homes. (AP Photo/The Southern Illinoisan, Alan Rogers)

Cairo police officer Judith Harris takes a picture of rising floodwaters Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Cairo, Ill. The mayor of the town at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers says that most of the city's remaining residents have heeded a mandatory evacuation order, prompted by river water seeping up through the ground behind a levee. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

The Thebes public works building is completely submerged by flood waters from the Mississippi River on Thursday, April 28, 2011 in Thebes, Ill. Southern Illinois cities bore up under the prospect of worse flooding along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers Thursday while state officials activated more National Guard troops and ordered 1 million sandbags. (AP Photo/The Southern Illinoisan, Alan Rogers)

Crews with the Illinois Department of Transportation work to put gravel down on a closed portion of U.S. 51 south of Cairo, Ill., on Monday, May 2, 2011, to fill in holes in the road. This part of the road is near both the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. (AP Photo/The Southern Illinoisan, Paul Newton)

Army Corps of Engineers' Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh speaks during a news conference at the Birds Point levee Monday, May 2, 2011, in Mississippi County, Mo. Walsh has given the order to blow a two-mile hole into the Birds Point levee later tonight in southeast Missouri, which would flood 130,000 acres of farmland in Missouri's Mississippi County but protect nearby Cairo, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Traffic moves along Highway 3 in Cairo, Ill., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh, second from left, announces at a news conference on Monday, May 2, 2011, that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will activate the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway starting at 9 p.m. (Laura Simon)

The scene outside the news conference near Birds Point, Mo., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

A home is surrounded by flooding in Wyatt, Mo., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

The scene outside the news conference near Birds Point, Mo., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Jimmy Reno, manager of the NAPA store on Washington Drive in East Prairie, Mo., peers out onto the flooded street on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Floodwaters near the front of Grace Inn in East Prairie, Mo., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

A worker climbs over a wall of sandbags outside an AT&T communications center in Wyatt, Mo., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Floodwaters near the front of Grace Inn in East Prairie, Mo., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Mayor Mitch Pullen, right, seen at City Hall in Wyatt, Mo., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

A truck drives through a flooded intersection along Washington Drive in East Prairie, Mo., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

A view towards Birds Point levee on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Floodwaters saturate a neighborhood in East Prairie, Mo., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

The National Guard blocks off Route 77 in Wyatt, Mo., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Precautionary sandbags are piled along Interstate 57 in Missouri just before the bridge to Cairo on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

The National Guard blocks off Route 77 in Wyatt, Mo., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh announces at a news conference on Monday, May 2, 2011, that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will activate the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway starting at 9 p.m. (Laura Simon)

Col. Vernie Reichling Jr., speaks at a news conference on Monday, May 2, 2011. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will activate the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway starting at 9 p.m. (Laura Simon)

Lonnie Weatherspy tends to his car, which died after passing through high water along Highway 3 in Cairo, on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Precious Davis, 26, brother Tyrell Harris, 12, and Dorian Weems, from left, of Cairo, Ill., stay at The Eagle Inn in Charleston, Mo., on Monday, May 2, 2011, after being evacuated. (Laura Simon)

Precautionary sandbags are piled along Interstate 57 in Missouri just before the bridge to Cairo on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

Flooding takes over a park in East Prairie, Mo., on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

The Birds Point levee breach looms beyond farmland in Mississippi County Monday night, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

The National Guard, emergency responders and media line up on U.S. 60/62 in anticipation of the intentional breach of Birds Point levee Monday night, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

The National Guard, emergency responders and media line up on U.S. 60/62 in anticipation of the intentional breach of Birds Point levee Monday night, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

The Birds Point levee breach looms beyond farmland in Mississippi County Monday night, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

The Birds Point levee breach looms beyond farmland in Mississippi County Monday night, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

The Birds Point levee breach looms beyond farmland in Mississippi County Monday night, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

The National Guard, emergency responders and media line up on U.S. 60/62 in anticipation of the intentional breach of Birds Point levee Monday night, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

The Birds Point levee breach looms beyond farmland in Mississippi County Monday night, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

The Birds Point levee breach looms beyond farmland in Mississippi County Monday night, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

The National Guard, emergency responders and media line up on U.S. 60/62 in anticipation of the intentional breach of Birds Point levee Monday night, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)

The Birds Point levee breach looms beyond farmland in Mississippi County Monday night, May 2, 2011. (Laura Simon)