in generations. there's so much water here that it is pushing flood control systems to their limits all up and down the mississippi. i had an exclusive interview with the man who is in charge of that system, and he tells me about a grave decision he had to make early on in this flood and why he may have to make that decision again before this is over. levees blown up. flooding 130,000 acres of rich missouri farmland. and this is the man who gave the order. but army corps of engineers major general michael walsh now finds his decision questioned and misunderstood. >> in a sense are you playing god here, deciding who gets flooded and who doesn't? >> no, i don't believe -- i don't believe that's the case. >> reporter: walsh's order to blow the levees did prevent record floodwaters from overtopping levees at cairo, illinois. but now we find that was just the beginning. walsh tells me there was so much