Cairo residents allowed inside city until 6 p.m.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Early this morning Cairo Mayor Tyrone Coleman approved to allow Cairo residents into the city to check their personal belongings until 6 p.m. today.

A representative from the Cairo Police Department said residents may come in to check their homes, animals, drop off and pick up personal items. Residents will not be allowed to stay in the city past 6 p.m. tonight due to Ohio and Mississippi river flood water remaining at high levels with much pressure still on the levee systems.

Residents who chose not to evacuate had to sign a wavier with the city. About 100 people stayed in Cairo last week as the rivers bore down on the town before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers breached the Birds Point levee in Missouri Monday. The Ohio River has since dropped to 59.34 feet at 10 a.m. today, more than 2 feet lower than the record high Monday of 61.72.