SituationAwareness:

April 26 - 27: National Weather Service estimates that 6 to 14 inches of rain has fallen over parts of the Ohio River watershed in the past week.   Much of the southern half of Illinois has seen rain in the 6-inches and above amounts causing widespread flooding of streams and rivers along with much standing water in fields and rural roadways being impassable at times.

The major threat to dwellings and businesses remains along the Ohio River where record-setting flooding, now characterized by the NWS as Major to Catastrophic is occurring.  Portions of Cairo, Illinois have been evacuated.

April 28: Flood crest now anticipated at over 60-feet in Cairo, an all time high, but below the flood wall.  About 100 people in the Cairo area have been evacuated.

Gates on dams on two upstream reservoirs have been closed which will cause flooding of recreational facilities including boat ramps, marinas, campgrounds, etc and could cause flooding of agricultural lands far removed from the river.

May 3: Flooding continues along the Wabash, Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers in Illinois along with their tributaries.   The Ohio river at Cairo, Illinois has passed previous records and is forecast to continue to rise through Wednesday.  There has been additional rain over last 48 hours in the flooded area.   Because of the historic levels, some areas which are not considered flood prone have been affected.

Some schools in southern Illinois are closed, others have reduced bus service.  Some towns have become isolated.  Postal service functions have been moved to higher ground in Pope County.

May 16: Flood levels continue to drop slowly in southern Illinois.  Event is slowly moving to clean up and recovery stage. Agricultural flooding remains extensive.

May 27: Continued flooding along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Flood crest now anticipated at over 60-feet in Cairo, an all time high, but below the flood wall. About 100 people in the Cairo area have been evacuated.

Gates on dams on two upstream reservoirs have been closed which will cause flooding of recreational facilities including boat ramps, marinas, campgrounds, etc and could cause flooding of agricultural lands far removed from the river.

ImpactUni:

Other than minor seepage there is no effect in Extension offices at this point. At least one U of I Extension employee has evacuated their home in the Cairo area.  Extension offices remain open and fully functioning at this time. 

May 3: The Shawneetown office of University of Illinois Extension may become cut off from access. 

May 27:  One Extension employee has been forced to evacuate her residence.

UniResponseEfforts:

We've been in communication with all field offices offering copies of "First Steps to Flood recovery." We are making plans to deploy other information as needed. As the event unfolds, we may deploy a loan pool of moisture meters (purchased with Special Needs funds followning 2008 floodin) in the recovery phase if necessary.

UseofEDENResourcs:

Distributed 750 copies of "First Steps to Flood recovery." purchased with USDA Special Needs funding following 2008 flooding. Purdue publication "Plan Today for Tomorrow's Flood: A Flood Response Plan for Agricultural Retailers" is being made available.

May 3: Over 1000 First Steps pubs have been distributed. Extension staff have also been communicating food safety and other information through local media.

May 16: More than 2,500 copies of First Steps to Flood Recovery have been sent to affected offices. Many offices are working very closely with local EMA officials. Have also been using EDEN site and eXtension for specific questions which are being forwarded to me.

ResponseNoteFeedback:

Very well. 

DisasterInstitution:

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign  [Rick Atterberry]