Flooding Risk Continues For Champaign County

Emergency authorities are cautioning Champaign County residents to watch out for flooded areas, after the county received from four to six inches of rain during a four-hour period Saturday.

The hardest-hit areas included parts of Champaign, Urbana and Savoy.

Rich Atterberry of the Champaign County Emergency Managementr Agency said in a news release that while most roads and streets have reopened, there was still heavy runoff. He warned against driving in flooded areas or playing in the water.

No injuries have been reported due to the flooding. But the Red Cross has opened an overnight shelter at the temporary site of Kenwood School, 1605 West Kirby in Champaign, for those who may be displaced by water or sewage.

Atterberry warned that another round of heavy rainfall was possible overnight, and warned motorists to be extremely cautious.

“It is nearly impossible to gauge the depth of water running over pavement, especially in the dark”, stated Atterberry.

The National Weather Service has placed Champaign County under a Flood Warning until 10 PM Saturday, followed by a Flash Flood Watch through Sunday afternoon.