CHICAGO | SAT Apr 30, 2011 10: 50 pm EDT
CHICAGO (Reuters)-a u.s. Government agency moves a step closer on Saturday to the blowing of a Mississippi River levee control floods after a court decision paved the way for it to proceed.
U.s. Army Corps of Engineers officials said they sent ships to the birds point levee near Cairo, Illinois, which is a mix of slurry that can be used to detonate the levee. The ships are set to arrive in Cairo of Hickman, Kentucky, late on Saturday.
Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh of the Army Corps told "that is one of the many decisions we make and if we ever before the decision (to explode)," reporters.
"After that, the next decision is taking the ships and preposition them. The following is in charge of the pipes and the next is to operate (detonate), "he added.
He provided no timetable for decisions and said the Corps was closely watching river levels expected to crest by Tuesday.
A Federal Appeals Court said earlier on Saturday, the Corps had the right to violate the levee to prevent floods in Cairo, as permitted by law a 1928.
The State of Missouri originally sued to stop the Corps plan, arguing that inflating the levee would flood 130,000 acres of Missouri agricultural land and extensive damage. The States of Illinois and Kentucky took the other side, saying that cities in their States might be flooded as the levee were not inflated.
A lower court ruled against Missouri on Friday, and the State then petition to the u.s. Circuit Court of Appeals.
"I am pleased that the court quickly rejected the request from Missouri. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said the Army Corps must be able to take any action for the protection of life and homes in Cairo and the surrounding communities, "in a statement.
Cairo, a historic town of 2800 people, is at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Both rivers have risen as a result of days of rain and the melting and runoff from the winter's heavy snowstorms.
Cairo Mayor Judson Childs late Saturday ordered a mandatory evacuation of the city as of midnight, according to the Corps.
In Missouri, some 230 residents have evacuated and the National Guard has command posts set up, the Governor said.
The Corps said it would detonate explosives in the levee as the River reached in Cairo of 61 feet and was rising. But the potential could blow the levee even if the River 61 feet not achieve if there is too much stress on the system.
The River, to 59.2 feet on Saturday afternoon, is expected to rise to 60.5 feet by Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
(Reporting by Christine Stebbins, editing by Greg McCune)
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