Fourth '100-year flood' hits Pearl City in 14 years, Illinois

A small Illinois town of Pearl City was hit by heavy rain on July 22, 2017, forcing many houses to evacuate. Their fire chief is describing it as a 100-year flood, the fourth in about 14 years. Houses, businesses and cars were severely damaged.

Pearl City Fire Chief Brend Schnider told KWQC on Saturday, July 22 that current flood waters are about 30 cm (1 foot) above the level they reached in 2010, and the flood is yet to crest.

All roads in and out of the town from the North, East, and West are impassable, and Schneider said that though there are a few roads to the South that are usable, all but one are still difficult to navigate.

Luckily, all the floods the town has experienced recently taught residents how to be prepared. Schneider said a lot of residents reinforced their homes against the rising waters ahead of time. Still, some residents who live in particularly low-lying areas had to be evacuated by boat.

Featured image: Pearl City, IL flooded after heavy rain on July 22, 2017. Credit: Mark Gassman (via Facebook)