Cairo is a perfect example of a dying town. Racial unrest in the 60s & 70s drove nearly all of the businesses and jobs away. When you drive through town you mostly see boarded up businesses. Recently the town has suffered a string of arsons. There are lots of beautiful mansions that have no value—no one who has any choice wants to live there.
I believe that any dispute between Missouri and Illinois over what the Corps of Engineers will do is bound to favor Illinois—after all, where is this administration from? That said the people of Cairo (pronounced care-o around here) both black and white are human beings who could very well lose their homes and belongings if the Corps doesn’t blow the levees in Missouri.
In addition, there is apparently a lot of toxic waste/pollution in Cairo that an inundation of the town would spread far down stream.
“if the Corps doesn’t blow the levees in Missouri.”
Historically the Corp has been wrong in every disaster situation involving the Mississippi River.