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CAT Tracks for May 6, 2011
NOT-SO-TGIF |
As promised, the first report for Friday actually occurred last night as Tyrone Coleman, Mayor of Cairo, traveled to Marion to meet with some of Cairo's refugees at the Fairfield Inn.
The meeting was originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m. but actually began at approximately 8:35 (as the Mayor was reportedly called to a house, the foundation of which had just crumbled. Needless to say, that news set an ominous tone for the proceedings.)
Mable Hollis used the one-hour delay to pass among the audience (approximately 40 in number) and distribute sheets of paper for individuals to write questions for the Mayor. (The audience spent the time complaining amongst themselves.)
When Mayor Coleman arrived, Mabel Hollis assumed the "MC" duties and called for a prayer to begin the meeting. Mayor Coleman and Mabel Hollis were joined "on stage" by Phillip Mathews (although no introductions were made or titles ascribed.)
Mayor Coleman began his remarks by stating "I am here tonight to present FACTS...not opinions or feelings." He made reference to LIES that were being told and circulated...although he never identified what these lies were.
Mayor Coleman (apparently anticipating the ire of the audience) pointed the finger directly at the Army Corps of Engineers and IEMA (Illinois Emergency Management Agency)...that it was those two agencies who were keeping the residents out of town...NOT him or other city officials. Mayor Coleman said that these two agencies were telling the city officials that it was NOT SAFE for residents to return and that he and the other city officials felt like they had no choice but to follow their advice. (Incidentally: Mayor Coleman said that the Army Corps of Engineers will remain in Cairo until the river reaches the level it was when they came.)
Mayor Coleman cited FACTS to support the claim that the City of Cairo was not safe:
The Mayor acknowledged that the river had gone down, but reminded the audience that it was still at an historic level. He said that the city's infrastructure was stressed to a peak and that the return of the city's residence (using toilets, taking showers, etc.) would cause an increase in the strain on the system...possibly causing it to collapse. Mayor Coleman said if that were to happen, then Cairo could wind up totally flooded like surrounding areas - e.g. Olive Branch. (Later in the meeting, the Mayor would return to this theme...that actually the residents of Cairo were "blessed", that "You will have a house to return to when this is all over. People elsewhere have lost everything.")
The Mayor then shifted the topic to relief for residents forced to leave Cairo..."We are trying to get relief to you." He said that the State of Illinois had already declared a disaster area. However, the damage had to reach $16 million (?) before a federal disaster area could be declared and FEMA could step in. (I put the "?" because that number seems awfully small and I may have misheard. The Mayor did indicated that the damage had already far exceeded whatever the number was, but that the paperwork had not been completed.)
The Mayor then returned to the doom and gloom aspects...the Kentucky Dam waters still to be released that would descend on Cairo, the "monster" sand boil (bigger than any ever seen by the Army Corps of Engineer folks), and everything...taking place at historic levels.
Mayor Coleman then said "I can't say I understand your situation. I can't say I feel your pain." However, he went on to say that his own wife was not in town...and, that if she were to try to return to the city, he would have to turn her away. He concluded this thought by stating that the city was not safe for him and the others who had stayed in town to handle the situation, but that he and they could not leave until the city was safe for the residents to return.
Mayor Coleman said "I know you are angry and mad." He said that he had been giving information to the media so that we would know what was going on, but that it was not reaching us. Mayor Coleman said that city officials had been trying to locate everyone...trying to fax information to everyone. He re-emphasized that "There are lies out there...LIES."
Mayor Coleman concluded his remarks by saying "I wish I could say that you can come back tommorrow...or Saturday, but I can't. Only God knows. All I can say...we are doing all we can possibly do. If you have a solution...I want to hear it. I can't give you more than the professionals are giving me. Call if you need information. Stop listening to people who don't know."
Mable Hollis then called for the "Question & Answer" period...
Note: I did not try to keep a running account of the dialog which followed. Below are bits and pieces...FACTS, NO LIES:
As the questions became more heated, Mayor Coleman seemed to shift to what in legal circles is known as the "SODDIT Defense" - SODDIT being an acronym for "Some Other Dude Did It"...in this case, the city officials dating back 50 years or more:
Mayor Coleman offered "help" by telling the audience that they should call the Illinois Department of Employment Security and the Illinois Department of Human Services. This fizzled when members of the audience related their own personal horror stories of already contacting the agencies and being told there was nothing to that they could do to help them.
Some useful information:
The meeting concluded at 9:45 p.m. with a prayer.
POSTSCRIPT:
The tragic story of the evening was related by a gentleman who said he left town on an errand before the mandatory evacuation order went into effect. He did not pack anything because he had no intention of leaving town...except for the unexpected errand. When he tried to return home, the police would not allow him to enter. He asked the Mayor if he could be allowed into the city to pack his things and leave...for good, that he was ready to leave Cairo.
The Mayor indicated that that was not possible...that they had tried that earlier with other people and those people had abused the courtesy, refusing to leave the city.
What's the tragedy you ask? The gentleman's dog is in the house with no food...
CAT Tracks Editor's Note:
If I erred in my reporting of the Mayor's visit, please let me know so that I may make corrections. Here at CAT Tracks, we strive to report "Just the facts, ma'am"...and that ain't no lie!
News stories will be posted below as they occur...
From the Southern Illinoisan...
Cairo waits as waters recede
BY BRENT STEWART THE SOUTHERN
CAIRO - It's been quite a first week for Cairo's new mayor, Tyrone Coleman.
And the work in Cairo is just beginning.
Coleman was sworn in Monday night as the Ohio River reached 61.72 feet, its highest level on record. The swearing-in ceremony was a few hours before the New Madrid-Birds Point levee in southeast Missouri was intentionally breached by The Army Corps of Engineers.
Since then, the river has dropped more than two feet.
Two subsequent explosions were necessary on the southern part of the levee to allow the water to flow back out. The final blast occurred Thursday. It was originally planned for Tuesday but was delayed while additional explosives were brought in.
This week, Cairo Police and Alexander County Sheriff's deputies manned a roadblock at the intersection of Illinois 51 and Illinois 37, limiting entrance to the city to essential personnel.
Coleman said a number of internal infrastructure problems have made the city unsafe for residents to return. A mandatory evacuation was issued Saturday by former Mayor Judson Childs.
A railroad overpass on Sycamore Street near Cairo Junior/Senior High School was completely flooded on Monday and Coleman said portions of the overpass collapsed that same night; however they did not block the road.
In addition, Coleman said a portion of 15th Street near Cairo City Hall caved in, as well as a portion of 16th Street. The 15th Street cave-in is currently being studied by the Army Corps of Engineers.
"Something has come up every day," Coleman said.
Despite waters receding inside the town, Coleman said there are still many issues to deal with because of the record high levels of water.
"Our public system is at its peak level," Coleman said. "If we let people come in and put more stress on a delicate system, we could have a heck of a problem."
Coleman estimated 250 people opted to not evacuate the town and extra precautions are being taken to keep them safe. He declined to estimate when evacuees would be readmitted to Cairo, saying he will wait for word from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
Coleman has also begun the process of finding assistance for those displaced during the flood and those unable to work.
"We're going to get through this," Coleman said. "I believe, when the dust is all settled, we'll be better tomorrow than we were yesterday."
- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
From the Southeast Missourain...
Illinois reopens Olive Branch highway
Friday, May 6, 2011
By Erin Hevern ~ Southeast Missourian
OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- As waters on Highway 3 at Olive Branch began to recede Wednesday evening, residents were eager to get back in their homes and businesses, knowing long days of cleanup were ahead of them.
The Illinois Department of Transportation opened the road Thursday morning, allowing families to return home if they could get to their property.
With the help of some family and friends, Clyde Quesenberry was using a backhoe to clean up corn stalks that were left washed up in his yard.
"It's never been this high," Quesenberry said, referring to the water that started to overtop the road Monday.
Ken Newton, owner of Foodtown, a grocery store across the street, was doing some cleanup of his own. Mud, water, and other debris were still on the floor of the store, although employees and volunteers were helping to vacuum up the mess. Newton thought he'd be able to open the store by Sunday, although he cringed at having to replace insulation along the store's walls. Water, he pointed out, destroyed the insulation up to about two feet from the floor.
In Cairo, law enforcement from other Illinois counties were called in to help locals secure the city. Officials were monitoring traffic at the intersection of Highway 37 and only letting in emergency personnel, news media and residents who had decided to stay after the mandatory evacuation was ordered.
"There's people that are mad, but it's better to be safe than sorry," Alexander County Sheriff Tim Brown said.
Brown said Mayor Tyrone Coleman would have to make the decision on when to let residents back in. Likely his decision wouldn't be based just on river levels but also on the condition of the levee and whether the city's infrastructure is safe. On Wednesday, the embankment along the railroad in northern Cairo had begun to slide, causing officials to worry about a mudslide. Railroad workers were on site Thursday trying to remedy the issue.
At 8 p.m. Thursday, the Ohio River had dropped to 59.6 feet, down from a record 61.72 feet that was measured just before the Birds Point-New Madrid levee was breached Monday night. The Mississippi River at Thebes, Ill., measured at 41.9 feet Thursday night.
CAT Tracks Editor's Note:
Okay, after sleeping on it...
...and reading the article above, I've decided that the more the water level falls in Cairo, the more the BS meter rises.
During Cairo Mayor Tyrone Coleman's visit to the Marion refugee camp last night, he gave Olive Branch as an example of why exiled Cairoites should be thankful...should feel blessed, even. Olive Branchers, we were told, had lost everything, their houses were flooded out, they had no place to go.
According to the article above, Olive Branchers have gone home...YESTERDAY!
In Cairo, the new city administration seems to welcome the legally dubious mandatory evacuation by the former Mayor as an opportunity to do a Spring clean-up, fix-up.
Residents are being asked - FORCED - to spend hundreds and thousands of dollars to live elsewhere while the city attends to matters left unattended for the past 50 years!
Uh, Mr. Mayor...it's time to let your people go home!
CAT Tracks Editor's Note:
Of a personal nature...
Had to step away from the computer for a short while...had to wash out a few things here at Marion Refugee Camp #8 as we approach the end of "Week One" in exile.
Mayor Coleman proclaimed us "blessed" last night...and I truly am. My early-morning laundry actually consisted of me getting in my car and driving the half mile to Walmart and purchasing $35 of basic necessities. Many others in exile do not have that luxury.
Not that city officials care about such mundane matters! They have IMPORTANT STUFF to attend to...50 years of neglect and negligence to clean up before those who pay the taxes to finance their efforts will be allowed to return to their homes.
Laundry?
Not on their radar!
But, then again, I'm sure their shtuff don't stink!
CAT Tracks Editor's Note:
Postscript to "Personal Note" above...
Ha!
The perils of "doing your laundry" before your eyes focus in the morning...
After assuring that I would have clean undies, I showered and shaved. I then went to don my new apparel...OOPS! Lucked out on the socks, but my tidy whities proved to be a size too large. Oh well, nothing that a wedgie won't cure. I've been feeling a bit violated this week anyway...
The meeting basically concluded with the Mayor taking up a suggestion offered by one of the attending refugees. Namely, that the City of Cairo set up a phone number for residents to call and hear a recorded message detailing the latest information.
