Flooding in Illinois, June 2 to 28, 2000

June 2000 will be remembered as an unusually wet month with moderate to major flooding on the Pecatonica and Rock Rivers. Much of Northwest Illinois averaged 2 to 4 inches above normal on rainfall. On June 2 the Pecatonica River was the first river to rise above flood stage, and brought moderate flooding to Freeport. Crests recorded at Freeport were 15.55 feet (on the 5th) and 13.78 feet (on the 14th). It was estimated that 250 homes were affected by the flooding.A series of heavy rain events within the first few weeks of the month, turned minor and moderate flooding to major and record flooding on the Rock River in Northwest Illinois. An earthen levee break near Erie Wednesday Evening June 14th resulted in sandbagging activities. Some evacutations occurred along the river, especially in the Illinois Quad City area. Crests recorded at Joslin were 14.51 feet (on the 7th), 18.55 feet (on the 16th) and 14.12 feet (on the 26th). Crests recorded at Moline were 12.64 feet (on the 7th), 15.01 feet (on the 17th) and 12.75 feet (on the 27th). Governor George Ryan declared Rock Island and Whiteside Counties state disaster areas because of the flooding along the Rock River. Several residents of more than 17 years classified the flood as one of the worst.