Southern Illinois Battles Flooding as Mississippi R. Builds Downstream

"Residents of flooded areas in far southern Illinois anxiously waited for the swollen Mississippi River to peak on Sunday, with hundreds electing to remain in their homes, as states downstream prepared for the rising waters.

About 125 structures were flooded in hard-hit Alexander County, the southernmost point in Illinois, where three families near one breach stayed dry behind sandbag fortifications and private levees, county board Chairman Chalen Tatum said.

The National Weather Service on Sunday canceled a flash flood watch for Alexander and two other Illinois counties, where record or near-record river levels have threatened levees."

David Bailey, Erwin Seba, and Tim Ghianni report for Reuters January 4, 2016.

SEE ALSO:

"Missouri Assesses Flood Damage, U.S. South Still Imperiled" (Reuters)