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Thursday,
September 02, 2010
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| | Email this article • Print this article | Damage
assessment
beginning
Officials continue to monitor flooding
While emergency officials continue to monitor levee breaks, flood waters and evacuations, the damage from water is beginning to be assessed.
Record flooding in northern and eastern Lawrence County late Monday and early Tuesday forced the evacuation of 200 homes and resulted in Lawrence County being declared a state disaster area.
Lawrence County Emergency Management Agency Jess Angle said Wednesday afternoon that damage assessment has been done on Third Street in Lawrenceville and will continue throughout the flooded areas.
Angle said the job includes filling out flood assessment forms, which must be filled out correctly and sent on to the state. Forms, which when completed are sent to state officials, are being checked to make sure they are properly filled out.
Three boats were also scheduled to be sent to the Chauncey area and throughout eastern Lawrence County to make another check of the homes in the flood area.
AS OF MID-MORNING today, Lawrence County Sheriff Russell Adams said the water in areas where there have been levee breaks, and other flooded areas is still rising.
Adams said water north of Russellville along Illinois Route 33 is rising at a rate of about an inch per hour.
In the southern part of the county, the St. Francisville road, which connects that community with Illinois Route 1, was flooded, then the water receded enough for the road to open, and now it is closed again due to flooding. Other roads previously closed are still flooded.
With the Wabash River above its flood stage, water from the Embarras has no place to go, and in some cases is backing up into the Embarras causing flood waters to rise, officials said.
ALSO RELEASED at periodic briefings:
- An emergency telephone number is being set up so people can contact law enforcement and other emergency personnel with questions and concerns. The number is the Lawrence County Jail number, 943-5766.
- As of 10:05 a.m. today, the National Weather Service reported the Embarras River was at 38.26 feet and falling. Flood stage is 30 feet. The Embarras crested at 42.3 feet early Tuesday.
- As of 6:37 a.m. today, the Wabash River at Westport was at 26.78 feet. The river crested at 27.5 feet early Wednesday. Flood stage is 16 feet.
- Illinois State Police, Lawrence County Sheriff's deputies and other law enforcement personnel continue to patrol the flood areas.
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