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Evacuation Issued In Cairo

By: Andy Waterman

ALEXANDER COUNTY-- As waters rise in Cairo so do piles of sandbags, all in preparation for a massive 61 foot crest on the Ohio River.

"This area's just covered right now," said Marty Nicholson, Alexander County's emergency management director. "It's just, it's devastating and there's no seeing to the end of this water for the next few days. It's going to do a lot of damage in the next few days."

To make sure residents aren't in harms way, city leaders have issued a voluntary evacuation.

"We're erring on the side of caution, we want the people to know the possibilities, what could happen," explained Cairo Mayor Judson Childs.

Employees at the Cairo Women's Shelter heard the news Tuesday morning and immediately planned to head out. Director Jeannine Woods says all three families staying at the shelter will be safe.

"Most of them had already anticipated this and had started making preparations on their own," said Woods. "So we have worked with them to make sure they do have some place they can go."

Meanwhile, a shelter has been set up for evacuees at Shawnee Community College. Authorities are asking residents to check in with them before they leave town so they know what homes they need to monitor.

"We're going to try to protect not only the citizens by offering the voluntary evacuation, but also the property they leave behind," said police chief Gary Hankins.

Officials say if the water rises as high as projected, they may have to issue a mandatory evacuation. Woods hopes people will leave town before that, because there's only one way out.

"We don't have a south exit out, both of the bridges are closed," she explained. "We see where there's water standing in the main entrance, so it's real important that they have that sense of safety which will include them getting out of here, and their families are safe."

State leaders have reached out to people in Cairo. Governor Quinn is expected to visit in the next few days to assess the situation.

From the Southeast Missourian website...

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As waters rise around them, Cairo residents encouraged to evacuate

By Erin Hevern ~ Southeast Missourian

CAIRO, Ill. -- Cairo residents were curious Tuesday about the state of the city's flood work, some even peering over the city's levee along the Ohio River, which was at 56.87 feet mid-afternoon -- less than three feet from record flood stage.

The Ohio River is expected to crest May 3 at 61 feet.

In an act of precaution, Cairo Mayor Judson Childs asked residents to voluntary evacuate the city after a Monday meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA and local law enforcement.

"It was determined the safety of our citizens is of our utmost importance and we want to give our residents every opportunity to collect their most cherished items in case of a problem," Childs said, adding that he still has full confidence in the levee along the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers.

Both rivers have been on the rise as heavy rains have hit Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois since last week. Cairo sits at the confluence of the two rivers.

"Pumps are all working at their full capacity and the levees, at this time, are secure and are being constantly monitored," Childs said.

By late morning Tuesday, Daystar Nursing Home on Cedar Street had begun to evacuate its 68 residents. Frederick L. Bernstein, CEO of Community Health and Emergency Services, said 38 of the 68 nursing home residents are wheelchair dependent.

"We started on the evacuation plan a couple days ago. We weren't going to take any chances," he said.

Bernstein hopes the facility will be fully evacuated by noon Wednesday.

Many of the residents will be taken via S.M.A.R.T., an area transportation group, or by nursing home staff to facilities in Anna and Carbondale, Ill. Some, like 63-year-old Alice Cartwright, were being picked up by their family members. Her nephew, Randell Whitaker, said he was taking his aunt to his home in the country near Metropolis, Ill.

"I'd rather have her with me and my wife. It's safe that way," Whitaker said.

Berstein said things were busy at the nursing home, but residents were anxious to be moved.

"I think if they're aware of things going on, they're happy to be moving," he said.