Governor Bruce Rauner visited the Iroquois County seat of Watseka Tuesday morning, where about 50 had to leave their homes last week.  Mayor Bob Harwood says given all the severe flooding problems in Southern Illinois, he feels good about the state's chances of a federal declaration. The bulk of damage in Vermilion County was to rural roads, and a sanitary sewer line in Danville.

Douglas County, where flooding on the Embarras River closed streets in Villa Grove, is among 12 Illinois counties that have been declared named state disaster areas by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

A flood warning continues Wednesday for much of central Illinois, and seven counties along the Mississippi River have been declared state disaster areas.

Mayor Bob Harwood said the city is starting see flood waters recede after experiencing its worst conditions since January 2008.  A few hundred residents could return home early next week.

Conditions in the Iroquois County city look a bit like they were in January 2008, when about 1,500 residents were forced from their homes.  The Iroquois River was about 6.5 feet above flood stage as of Sunday.