WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use caution in their decision to activate the New Madrid floodway, putting a Missouri community and thousands of acres of productive farmland underwater.

“The constituents I represent, their property and our regional economy are directly in the path of the major flooding event the Corps is contemplating at this hour.  The destruction of the levee would be a tremendous hardship for Southern Missouri.  I want the Corps to be one thousand percent certain that detonating the Birds Point levee is necessary, and I want them to be completely committed to restoring the floodway once this situation has passed,” Emerson said. 
The Corps is expected to make a decision whether or not to activate the New Madrid floodway this evening at 5:00 p.m. CDT.