Cass County joins list of flood disaster counties

By Gary Scott on January 5, 2016 at 1:04pm

Another county in the four-county WLDS-WEAI News coverage area has been added to the list of declared disaster areas by the state in the wake of recent flooding.

Cass County is one of eleven new counties added to the list today by Governor Bruce Rauner. Sangamon County also has been added. Morgan County was put on the list last week. The total number of declared counties is now 23.

A state disaster declaration makes a wide variety of state resources available that can help communities respond and recover from flooding, including sandbags, sand, pumps, trucks, inmate crews and other assistance to ensure public safety, according to a press release.

The Illinois River at Beardstown is at 29.54 feet as of 9:45 this morning, bringing it to within a half-inch of the record flood stage. The river in Cass County is expected to drop out of major flood stage by Saturday.