Flooding Possible Again Along Illinois

The area was already hit hard by near-record floods two weeks ago.

Thursday, April 3rd 2008, 6:08 pm

By: News On 6

Another round of rain could develop into flooding along the Illinois River. The area was already hit hard by near-record floods two weeks ago. The News On 6's Chris Wright reports officials say as little as two inches of rain could spell serious trouble along the Illinois. It's not a prospect that those who live near the river are looking forward to.

Steve Randall says that, most of the time, there is no place he would rather live than on the banks of the Illinois River.

"But one fraction of a percentage of a time, it can get ugly, nasty, mean, and threatening," said Randall.

It certainly became threatening two weeks ago, when four inches of water flooded Randall's home. That may not sound like much, but the house sits well above the ground.

"I'm about 25 and a half feet. So at 26 feet it got in my cabin regrettably," said Randall.

Randall, as well as his neighbors, is hoping to avoid a repeat of that flood.

Now with the river so high, and the ground already saturated from recent flooding, officials say flooding will be big concern this week.

"If we do in fact receive another two or three inches of rain, we're gonna have some trouble," said Ed Fite, Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission.

The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission is advising people to move their possessions to higher ground just in case.

Officials don't want to see a repeat of two weeks ago, when flooding damaged several canoe operators' equipment.

"We're always glad to get the rain, but in the last two weeks we've had too much rain," said Fite.

So even as Randall prepares for another round of rain, and potentially more flooding, he says the view makes it all worth it.

"My wife likes to call it adventure living. I'm getting a little weary of adventure living right now, but I'll get over it," said Randall.

The Illinois River actually spilled over its banks earlier this week when it reached 13 feet, five feet over flood stage. The river crested at 22 feet two weeks ago.

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