Flash Flood and Flooding in Illinois, May 1 to 31, 2011

Record flooding occurred on the Ohio River. At the Cairo river gage, the flood crest of 61.72 feet on the evening of May 2 broke the previous record of 59.50 feet set in 1937. The activation of the New Madrid Floodway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spared Cairo (population 2,800) from an even higher crest that could have easily overtopped the city's levees. With the detonation of the Mississippi River levee at Birds Point, Missouri, the Ohio River dropped suddenly at Cairo. The entire city of Cairo was placed under a mandatory evacuation order as the Ohio River approached the top of the levees protecting the city. Only about 40 people remained behind after the evacuation. Due to heavy rain and backed-up sewers, several blocks within the city experienced basement flooding despite being protected by levees. Some streets in the city were undermined by seepwater. Most routes into and out of the city were blocked by flooding, including Route 3 to the north and both bridges to the south (over the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers). A main rail line that runs through Cairo was shut down due to a large landslide.

Major flooding continued on the Ohio River from April. At the Grand Chain river gage, the flood crest of 62.20 feet on the evening of May 2 came within two feet of the record of 64.00 feet set in 1937. The activation of the New Madrid Floodway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spared Pulaski County from an even higher crest. With the detonation of the Mississippi River levee at Birds Point, Missouri, the Ohio River dropped suddenly at Grand Chain.

Major flooding continued on the Ohio River from April. At the Brookport river gage, the flood crest of 57.00 feet on the night of May 5 was about 3.5 feet higher than the 1997 flood. This was still several feet lower than the record crest set in 1937. The activation of the New Madrid Floodway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spared Massac County from an even higher crest that would have inundated even larger areas of Metropolis. With the detonation of the Mississippi River levee at Birds Point, Missouri, the Ohio River stopped rising or rose much more slowly at the Brookport gage. A voluntary evacuation of the city of Brookport was requested due to potential problems with its levees. Most residents east of downtown Metropolis living between U.S. Highway 45 and the river were forced to evacuate as their homes flooded. Some dwellings on the other side of Route 45 were flooded. Several businesses along U.S. Highway 45, mostly car dealerships and restaurants, were forced to close as water crept across the highway near Fort Massac State Park. The highway remained open but reduced to two lanes. A massive sandbagging operation was conducted to attempt to protect many homes and businesses along U.S. 45 from Interstate 24 to the downtown area of Metropolis, as well as Joppa. A couple of nursing homes were evacuated. Schools were closed. Shelters were opened for those who were displaced. A hotel-casino along the Metropolis riverfront was closed for over a month.

Major flooding continued on the Ohio River from April. At the Golconda river gage, the flood crest of 56.89 feet on the afternoon of May 6 was about 3 feet higher than the 1997 flood. This was still almost six feet lower than the record crest set in 1937. The activation of the New Madrid Floodway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spared Pope County from an even higher crest that would have inundated even larger areas of the county. With the detonation of the Mississippi River levee at Birds Point, Missouri, the Ohio River stopped rising or rose much more slowly at the Golconda gage. Due to Ohio River flooding, the floodgates were installed at Golconda. This required that all access roads into and out of Golconda be closed, since those roads pass through the floodwall openings. Schools and government offices were closed due to the effective shutdown of Golconda, the largest town in the county. The town of Golconda was under a voluntary evacuation request. The Golconda post office was moved to a temporary location outside of town. Residents of the tiny community of Hamletsburg were evacuated. All the residents of Hall Town, which is an unprotected area outside the levee protection system, were evacuated as floodwaters engulfed the community. Lusk Creek backed up into Golconda, flooding a street. Residents of the community of Bay City boated to Golconda for emergency supplies. Floodwaters inundated much of the community of New Liberty. Bay Creek Camp was flooded. Backwater flooded rural gravel roads in the Brownfield area.

Major flooding continued on the Ohio River from April. Based on data from river gages in nearby Pope and Gallatin Counties, the flood crest of 2011 was two to three feet higher than the 1997 flood. This was still 6 to 9 feet lower than the record crest set in 1937. The activation of the New Madrid Floodway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spared Hardin County from an even higher crest that would have inundated even larger areas of the county. With the detonation of the Mississippi River levee at Birds Point, Missouri, the Ohio River stopped rising or rose much more slowly. At least a few riverfront homes in Elizabethtown were flooded up to two feet deep. A few homes in Cave-In-Rock were flooded, and much of the rest of the community was sandbagged. Portions of Illinois Route 1 were closed. A section of Highway 146 was sandbagged to keep it open. A couple of churches were sandbagged in Cave-In-Rock and Elizabethtown. The oldest Baptist church in Illinois sustained flooding damage in Elizabethtown. The National Guard was activated to assist with sandbagging. Flood gates were installed at Rosiclare. Parks and other recreational facilities outside of the levee protection system were flooded. County schools were closed. The ferry from Cave-In-Rock to Crittenden County, KY was shut down.

Major flooding continued on the Ohio River from April. At the Shawneetown river gage, the flood crest of 56.37 feet on the afternoon of May 6 was about two feet higher than the 1997 flood. This was still over nine feet lower than the record crest set in 1937. Sandbagging operations and some evacuations were conducted in Old Shawneetown, Equality, Junction, and New Haven. These communities are all affected by the Ohio River or its backwater coming up the Saline River. In Equality, floodwaters were four feet high in a church. At least several homes were inundated. In Junction, water was three to four feet deep in one house. About a dozen other homes in Junction were under one to three feet of water. The sewer plants in New Haven and Equality were endangered by flooding. Pumps in Old Shawneetown were overwhelmed by rainwater runoff collecting on the dry side of the levee. This was responsible for considerable flooding in Old Shawneetown even before the Ohio River crested. A number of roads were closed, including the main road into Junction and Route 1. All roads into Old Shawneetown were blocked by authorities to prevent looting and interference from sightseers. A Red Cross shelter was opened in Shawneetown.

Major flooding continued on the Mississippi River from April. At the Thebes river gage, the flood crest of 45.52 feet on the night of May 2 was the second highest crest on record. The record crest was 45.91 feet in May of 1995. A major levee break at Fayville resulted in flash flooding in central and northern parts of the county. Communities outside of levee protection systems, such as Olive Branch, Miller City, and Tamms, were evacuated as floodwaters inundated entire communities and cut off access roads. Many homes and businesses in those communities were sandbagged, but most of them ended up being flooded. Lower portions of the community of Thebes were inundated. The National Guard was requested to assist with sandbagging residences. A water main break caused interruptions in the drinking water supply.

Major flooding continued on the Mississippi River from April. Based on data from a nearby river gage in Alexander County, the flood crest of 2011 was the second highest crest on record. All access roads to the Mississippi River levees were closed. Some residents were isolated by the floodwaters, and one school district cancelled classes. Backwater from the Mississippi River contributed to flooding of Clear Creek, which affected at least one home. Sandbagging operations were conducted to protect water wells in the Clear Creek area, and to reinforce levees. The National Guard was activated to assist with the sandbagging.

Major flooding continued on the Mississippi River from April. Based on data from a river gage in Alexander County, the flood crest of 2011 was among the five highest crests on record. A voluntary evacuation of the community of Grand Tower was requested, partly due to a leak in a levee along the Big Muddy River. Grand Tower sits at the confluence of the Big Muddy and Mississippi Rivers.

Record flooding occurred on the Wabash River. At the Mount Carmel river gage, the river crested at 34.02 feet on May 3. The old record that was set in the January, 2005 flood was broken by less than an inch. A restaurant was surrounded by water. Some residences were inaccessible due to flooded roadways. Several roads were flooded, even inside the city of Mount Carmel. Backwater from the Wabash River contributed to flooding of Greathouse Creek, which spilled onto a couple of streets and properties in Mount Carmel. Sandbagging was done to reinforce a section of levee.

Major flooding continued on the Wabash River from April. At the New Harmony (Indiana) river gage, the river crested at 23.67 feet on May 4. This level was the fourth highest crest on record, exceeding the 2005 flood by about six inches. This was the highest level since 1943. Sandbagging began to prevent Wabash River floodwaters from entering the Grayville water plant. Several homes in Grayville were threatened by rising water, and water entered a number of basements. The approach to the bridge to Maunie was washed out. The 172 residents of Maunie were asked to evacuate, but 42 of them did not. An airboat was brought in by Illinois police to shuttle supplies into the isolated community and evacuate medical patients. The airboats were used to assist residents in the communities of Dogtown and Concord that were isolated by floodwaters. In New Haven, a combination of Little Wabash River floodwater and Wabash River backwater flooded more than a dozen homes.

Record flooding occurred on the Big Muddy River. At the Murphysboro river gage, the river crested at 40.42 feet on the early morning of May 2. This exceeded the old record set in 1961 by over a foot. Illinois Route 127 was closed at the Big Muddy River bridge near Murphysboro. The river was completely over the bridge on Old Route 13. Residents of a trailer park between Illinois Route 13 and the river were asked to evacuate. Flooding approached a Murphysboro neighborhood. The National Guard was activated to assist with sandbagging. The Murphysboro wastewater treatment plant was sandbagged. About a dozen streets were closed and underwater in Murphysboro. U.S. Highway 51 was reduced to one lane north of Carbondale, backing up traffic for miles.

Record flooding occurred on the Big Muddy River. At the Plumfield river gage, the river crested at 34.68 feet on the evening of May 3. This exceeded the old record set in 1961 by less than an inch. Illinois Route 148 was closed south of Zeigler, as was County Highway 11. A section of Illinois Route 149 was closed, along with Illinois Route 37 north of West Frankfort. About two dozen homes were flooded, mostly in the Mitchell Lake area of Denning Township. Between five and six feet of water entered some homes. A 62-year-old man was found clinging to a tree after ignoring barricades and driving into swift water on the morning of May 3. The man was treated for hypothermia at a local hospital. His vehicle was washed off the roadway into deep water.

Major flooding continued on the Little Wabash River from April. At the Carmi river gage, the river crested at 38.34 feet on May 3. This reading was the second highest on record, missing the record level set in 1961 by only about an inch. Due to flooding of the Little Wabash River, the bridge on Route 1 and several low-lying streets in Carmi were closed. At least ten businesses in East Carmi were flooded. The businesses were closed for up to three weeks. Flooding damaged or cut off access to about 20 homes and a church. Backwater from the Little Wabash River caused major flooding on the Skillet Fork River in the Mill Shoals and Springerton areas. Some sandbagging was done in Mill Shoals, and a section of U.S. 45 was closed. County and city schools were closed.

Record flooding occurred on the Big Muddy River. At the Murphysboro river gage, the river crested at 40.42 feet on the early morning of May 2. This exceeded the old record set in 1961 by over a foot. At least a few homes at the edge of Herrin sustained major flooding damage. A bridge near Hurst was threatened by the rising river, prompting schools to dismiss early. Water was flowing over the bridge, and the stability of the bridge was uncertain.

A major breach occurred in the Fayville levee. Despite widespread sandbagging, there was flash flooding across parts of central Alexander County. The communities of Miller City, Olive Branch, and Willard were impacted. Floodwaters covered sections of Illinois Route 3. Many homes and businesses were flooded. Olive Branch was inaccessible, and portions of Illinois Routes 3 and 37 were closed.