Mississippi River floodwaters

Many areas along the river in Missouri's boot heel are seeing significant flooding, and ominous flooding forecasts are raising alarm from southeast Missouri to Louisiana and Mississippi.

Section:Gallery

Tue., May 3, 2011

This aerial photo shows the threat of massive flooding and a levee breach was lightened on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 after the Birds Point Levee, Mo., was breached by the Army Corps of Engineers. The demolition of the levee sent water pouring onto thousands of acres of farmland Tuesday, easing the Mississippi River floodwaters threatening the tiny Illinois town of Cairo. The demolition project did nothing to ease the risk of more trouble downstream, where the mighty river is expected to rise to its highest levels since the 1920s in some parts of Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Paul Newton Associated Press
This aerial photo shows the flood plain in Mississippi County, Mo., after the Birds Point Levee was intentionally breached on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. om an attempt to ease the Mississippi River floodwaters threatening the tiny Illinois town of Cairo.

Paul Newton Associated Press
This aerial photo shows much of Thebes, Ill remains under water on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. The demolition of Birds Point Levee, Mo., sent water pouring onto thousands of acres of farmland Tuesday, easing the Mississippi River floodwaters threatening the tiny Illinois town of Cairo.

Paul Newton Associated Press
This aerial photo shows homes submerged along Illinois 3 in Olive Branch, Ill. on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. The demolition of the Birds Point Levee,Mo., sent water pouring onto thousands of acres of farmland Tuesday, easing the Mississippi River floodwaters threatening the tiny Illinois town of Cairo.

Paul Newton Associated Press
Buildings are seen surrounded by floodwater Tuesday, May 3, 2011, in Mississippi County, Mo. The Army Corps of Engineers blew a two-mile hole into the Birds Point levee in southeast Missouri, flooding 130,000 acres of farmland in Missouri's Mississippi County in an effort to protect nearby Cairo, Ill.

Jeff Roberson Associated Press
Water flows through an intentional breech in the Birds Point levee Tuesday, May 3, 2011, in Mississippi County, Mo. Army Corps of Engineers' blew a two-mile hole Monday night into the Birds Point levee in southeast Missouri, which has flooded 130,000 acres of farmland in Missouri's Mississippi County in an effort to protect nearby Cairo, Ill., from rising floodwaters.

Jeff Roberson Associated Press
Water flows through an intentional breech in the Birds Point levee Tuesday, May 3, 2011, in Mississippi County, Mo. The Army Corps of Engineers' blew a two-mile hole Monday night into the Birds Point levee in southeast Missouri, which has flooded 130,000 acres of farmland in Missouri's Mississippi County in an effort to protect nearby Cairo, Ill. from rising floodwaters.

Jeff Roberson Associated Press