May 24, 2011

Southern Illinois after the flood

The floodwater has receded in Cairo and Olive Branch, leaving behind an array of destruction.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Vivian Winding sweeps up debris on the floor as Morgan, 9, and Alexus Dodd, 8, play with spools of thread they found inside the Horseshoe Lake Motel Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch, Ill.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Large sinkholes on Commercial Ave. have closed the avenue to traffic in several sections Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Cairo, Ill.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Birds sit in their cages as Vivian Winding sweeps up inside the Horseshoe Lake Motel Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Large sinkholes on Commercial Ave. have closed the avenue to traffic in several sections Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Cairo, Ill.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com From left, Wyatt, Ethan and Kyle Caldwell wait inside the Community Center for their grandmother to finish up in the kitchen Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Red Cross case worker and damage accessor Linda May stops at a house along Illinois Route 3 Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Rodney Petermichel is seen through the hole in the wall where drywall was once placed Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch. The bottom half of all the walls inside this home had to be removed due to flood damage.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Household items and belongs line the sidewalk as Donald Polivick enters the Horseshoe Lake Motel Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Donnie Davis checks the wiring where his surround sound was set up Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Remnants of the over 20,000 sandbags that were used to help keep out floodwater from this home wait for removal Tuesday, May 24, 2011 along Illinois Route 3 in Olive Branch.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Household items and carpet sit in a burn pile outside Horseshoe Lake Motel Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Large sinkholes on Commercial Ave. have closed the avenue to traffic in several sections Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Cairo, Ill.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Helen Stilley, left, Vivian Winding, right center, and Alexis, 8, and Morgan Dodd, 9, sit outside the Horseshoe Lake Motel Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch. The group uses baby wipes to help keep the bugs off of them.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com A stuffed toy sits on a stack of tires outside the Horseshoe Lake Motel Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Rocky Brown pets his pup Nyla-Marie or as he calls her "the swamp dog" outside the Horseshoe Lake Motel Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com A spray bottle filled with bleach is used to help control mold inside this Olive Branch home Tuesday, May 24, 2011.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Homeowner Donnie Davis is seen walking through his home Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch. Davis had to remove the bottom half of all the walls inside his home due to flood damage.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com The ladies inside the Olive Branch Community Center prepare supper Tuesday, May 24, 2011.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Bonnie Farris and Zach Price remove sandbags from the perimeter of a home along Illinois Route 3 Tuesday afternoon, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch. This was the pair's fifth load of sandbags since they began mid-morning.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Help signs are posted at the entrance of the Olive Brach Community Center Tuesday, May 24, 2011.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com The ladies inside the Olive Branch Community Center prepare supper Tuesday, May 24, 2011.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Large sinkholes on Commercial Ave. have closed the avenue to traffic in several sections Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Cairo, Ill.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Michael Davis, rear, and Taylor Webb look out over pile of debris that used to be the walls inside their home Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Donald Polivick sits inside the entrance of Horseshoe Lake Motel Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Olive Branch.

LAURA SIMON~lsimon@semissourian.com Large sinkholes on Commercial Ave. have closed the avenue to traffic in several sections Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Cairo, Ill.

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The floodwater has receded in Cairo and Olive Branch, leaving behind an array of destruction.

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