Flood in Vermilion County, Illinois

Around 1.00 to 1.75 inches of rain fell onto frozen ground late on February 19th. This set the conditions for rapid flash flooding to occur on February 20th into the 21st when 3.00 to 5.00 of rain occurred. Numerous creeks and streams rapidly flooded in northern and central Vermilion County. Numerous roads in Hoopeston, Bismarck and Danville were impassable. Another 0.50 to 1.00 inch of rain from late on February 21st into early February 23rd exacerbated the flooding. The North Fork of the Vermilion River flooded so quickly that 25 homes had to be evacuated by boat in the Morin addition on the west side of Danville early in the morning on February 21st. A person attempting to cross a flooded section of Illinois Route 1, between Hoopeston and Rossville had to be rescued from the roof of their car, also early in the morning on February 21st. The flood waters took more than two days to recede, with much of the flooding ending by the late afternoon of February 23rd.

A slow-moving frontal boundary brought very heavy rainfall to central Illinois from Monday, February 19th through Tuesday, February 20th. Many locations east of I-55 and north of I-70 picked up 3 to 5 inches of rain...with locally higher amounts in excess of 6 inches. The heavy rain occurring on top of the frozen ground led to significant run-off and widespread flooding along area creeks and streams. Several roads had water flowing across them during the evening of February 20th, particularly across portions of Champaign and Vermilion counties. In addition, the Vermilion River exceeded its banks...forcing the evacuation of 25 homes on the west side of Danville. High water continued to impact eastern Champaign County into Vermilion County into Friday, February 23rd.