Flood in Coles County, Illinois

Numerous roads were flooded due to heavy rain ranging from 5 to 7 inches across Coles County. Basements flooded in numerous homes throughout the county. On June 5th, a 72 year old male, drown while attempting to cross a bridge flooded by the Kaskaskia River, about 2 miles north of Cooks Mills. Coles County was declared a disaster area as a result of the extensive flooding.

Several episodes of heavy rain from June 2nd through the 4th, and again on the 6th, produced copious amounts of rain and extensive flooding in eastern Illinois which persisted for two weeks. Rainfall totals ranged from 5 to 11 inches between June 2nd and June 6th, with the majority of the rain falling on June 6th. Hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded, and six counties were declared disaster areas with total damages estimated around $3 Million. An elderly man was killed on June 5th in rural Coles County as he attempted to cross a flooded bridge in his vehicle.