Flood in Franklin County, Illinois

Record flooding occurred on the Big Muddy River. At the Plumfield river gage, the river crested at 34.68 feet on the evening of May 3. This exceeded the old record set in 1961 by less than an inch. Illinois Route 148 was closed south of Zeigler, as was County Highway 11. A section of Illinois Route 149 was closed, along with Illinois Route 37 north of West Frankfort. About two dozen homes were flooded, mostly in the Mitchell Lake area of Denning Township. Between five and six feet of water entered some homes. A 62-year-old man was found clinging to a tree after ignoring barricades and driving into swift water on the morning of May 3. The man was treated for hypothermia at a local hospital. His vehicle was washed off the roadway into deep water.

Moderate flooding occurred on the Big Muddy River. At the Plumfield river gage, the river crested at 28.60 feet on the 2nd. Flood stage is 20 feet. Several houses were evacuated, including two houses between Plumfield and Buckner. A number of roads were closed. State Highway 148 at the Big Muddy River bridge south of Zeigler was reduced to one lane. There was considerable flooding of bottomlands and surrounding low-lying areas. Franklin County government officials declared a state of disaster for the entire county. The American Red Cross opened shelters for flood victims.

There was extensive flooding of a neighborhood in the northeast part of Benton from heavy rain during the overnight and early morning hours. Homes on two streets were flooded. In West Frankfort, residents of an apartment complex were evacuated. A co-operative observer near Plumfield measured 4.10 inches of rain in the previous 24 hours.