OLD SHAWNEETOWN,Ill. (WSIL) -- Parts of the region continue to feel the impacts of major flooding. Old Shawneetown is still dealing with the rising waters as crest levels approach.Â
The flooding has impacted important infrastructures. This includes the original power substation in Old Shawneetown, which is now surrounded in a pool of water.
Ameren officials, anticipating this, proactively installed a mobile substation on the eastern outskirts of Shawneetown.
Jennifer Lee, Community Relations Executive, Ameren Illinois, says, "We learned a lot in the flood of 2011 and so we were very proactive and had it in place, the mobile substation in place. And then if we didn't need it, it was just here, but we did decide, made the decision, to go ahead and switch it over from the old sub, the Old Shawneetown substation just because it was the safest thing to do for our residents and for our lineman if they had to go out and work on it."
Lee says they have successfully minimized power supply disruptions to residents. She also emphasized the impressive community effort during this process.
"These communities just come together and they help each other out and they're just doing whatever's necessary to save each other's homes and their positions and they're just making sure that everyone's taken care of in their communities," says Lee.
Martin Wooden, EMA Coordinator, says neighboring towns in Gallatin County, including Junction, are experiencing road closures due to the flooding, including Forest Road and secondary roads between Route 1 and Route 13.
Currently, three pumps are operating along the levee system, monitored by residents around the clock. As of 5:30 a.m. today, the water level was at 53.11 feet and is expected to crest at 53.4 feet, remaining at that level until Thursday before starting to recede, according to EMA officials.
