2011 Flood: A year later, April 26

On this day,

April 26

Cape river level: 42.3 feet

Cape flood stage: 32 feet

Cairo river level: 56.53 feet

Cairo flood stage: 40 feet

Rainfall: 1.93 inches

The Corps delayed the decision to intentionally breach Birds Point. "I don't want anybody blowing up any levees in my state," Gov. Jay Nixon announced. Cairo's mayor asked for voluntary evacuation of the city. A shelter for pets was opened in Arena Park. Meanwhile, another 2 inches of rain was expected.

For a complete timeline of the Flood of 2011 or to see the photos from last year, go to semissourian.com/flood2011

On this day,

April 27

Cape river level: 44.0 feet

Cape flood stage: 32 feet

Cairo river level: 57.99 feet

Cairo flood stage: 40 feet

Rainfall: 0.43 inches

Rain pounds the region again. More than 100 residents expressed concerns to the Corps in a town hall meeting about the consequences of blowing the Birds Point levee. Areas around Dutchtown, Allenville and parts of the Red Star District were under water.

For a complete timeline of the Flood of 2011 or to see the photos from last year, go to semissourian.com/flood2011

On this day,

April 28

Cape river level: 44.9 feet

Cape flood stage: 32 feet

Cairo river level: 58.71 feet

Cairo flood stage: 40 feet

Rainfall: trace

Finally a short-lived dry spell. At Cairo, the river rose just a 1/2 inch, and the Corpps of Engineers temporarily took off the table the plan to breach the Birds Point Levee. U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr., listened to more than five hours of testimony regarding the Corps of Engineers' legal authority to blow the levee.

For a complete timeline of the Flood of 2011 or to see the photos from last year, go to semissourian.com/flood2011

On this day,

April 29

Cape river level: 45.3 feet

Cape flood stage: 32 feet

Cairo river level: 59.00 feet

Cairo flood stage: 40 feet

Rainfall: 0

U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr., ruled that the Corps of Engineers plan to breach the Birds Point levee was appropriate. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster appealed the decision. The sheriff of Mississippi County asked the National Guard to activate a mandatory evacuation for residents of the floodway.

For a complete timeline of the Flood of 2011 or to see the photos from last year, go to semissourian.com/flood2011

On this day,

April 30

Cape river level: 45.2 feet

Cape flood stage: 32 feet

Cairo river level: 59.15 feet

Cairo flood stage: 40 feet

Rainfall: 1.49 inches

Just 3 inches shy of the record crest, Cairo's mayor orders everyone in the city to leave by midnight. Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh ordered the barges carrying 250 tons of explosives to Wickliffe, KY., putting them in position, according to the established plan, to blow the Birds Point levee. No decision had been made whether to activate the floodway.

For a complete timeline of the Flood of 2011 or to see the photos from last year, go to semissourian.com/flood2011

On this day,

May 1

Cape river level: 45.9 feet

Cape flood stage: 32 feet

Cairo river level: 59.73

Cairo flood stage: 40 feet

Rainfall: 2.79 inches

Fifteen roads in Cape Girardeau were closed. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block federal officials from breaching the Birds Point levee. The court refused to halt the plans. The president of the Mississippi River Commission drected the Corps of Engineers to move barges of explosives across the river to Missouri and load pipes with blasting agents. MoDOT worked to keep Interstate 55 open south of Sikeston. The story of the flooding here was pushed to the side in the national discussion when President Barack Obama announced the killing of Osama bin Laden.

On this day,

May 2

Cape river level: 46.2 feet

Cape flood stage: 32 feet

Cairo river level: 61.05

Cairo flood stage: 40 feet

Rainfall: 1.44 inches

The Army Corps of Engineers exploded a large section of the Birds Point levee just after 10 p.m. The corps hoped the decision would divert up to 4 feet of water off the river at Cairo. By midnight, the river stage at Cairo had dropped from the recod crest of 61.72 feet at10 p.m. to 61.13 feet. Heavy downpours overnight, with some areas receiving 5 inches of rain, caused the Black River to rise sharply near Poplar Bluff, where just a week earlier a flash flood caused the emergency evacuation of 1,000 people.