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Weather Alert

Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in
Illinois...

Big Muddy River near Plumfield affecting Williamson and Franklin
Counties.

Big Muddy River near Murphysboro affecting Jackson County.

.A couple more rounds of moderate to heavy rain can be expected into
the weekend. The rest of the event rainfall has been incorporated
into the river forecast.  The Big Muddy River has started to rise and
crests are expected over the next week. Now is the time to prepare
for flooding.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.

Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive
cars through flooded areas.

Additional information is available at www.weather.gov.

&&

...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON UNTIL FURTHER
NOTICE...

* WHAT...Moderate flooding is forecast.

* WHERE...Big Muddy River near Plumfield.

* WHEN...From Saturday afternoon until further notice.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 11:00 AM CDT Friday the stage was 14.0 feet.
- Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage
early tomorrow afternoon and continue rising to a crest of
28.1 feet Tuesday evening.
- Flood stage is 20.0 feet.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

&&

Weather Alert

.Showers and storms have produced 2 to 5 inches of rainfall across
most of the Quad State since Wednesday. A few isolated zones have
received as much as 8 inches as of early this morning. Another 4 to
8 inches of rainfall forecast through Sunday will result in a
particularly dangerous flooding and flash flooding situation.

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...

* WHAT...Flash flooding and flooding caused by excessive rainfall is
expected. With 2 to 8 inches already fallen and another 4 to 8
inches forecast, a particularly dangerous situation is likely to
develop.

* WHERE...All of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western
Kentucky, and southeast Missouri.

* WHEN...Through Sunday morning.

* IMPACTS...
...This is a particularly dangerous situation...

Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams,
and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams
may rise out of their banks. Low-water crossings may be flooded.
Extensive street flooding may develop. Flooding may occur in homes,
businesses and other locations not normally subject to flooding.
Roadways may wash away near creeks and culverts.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- Multiple rounds of locally heavy rainfall over several days
will result in extreme forecast amounts of over 1 foot of
rain that will cause the risk of flash flooding and flooding
to rise markedly and create a particularly dangerous flooding
situation.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor later forecasts and be alert for Flash Flood and Flood
Warnings. Be prepared to take action when flooding develops.

&&

Caritas Family Solutions celebrates 75 years in southern Illinois

  • Brooke Schlyer is the midday producer and co-anchor. She also reports for the 4 p.m. newscast. 

  • Updated
  • 0

CARTERVILLE, ILLINOIS (WSIL) -- Caritas Family Solutions is celebrating 75 years in the community.

The organization is the largest provider of Foster Care services in southern Illinois, and the second largest in the state just behind the Department of Children and Family Services. 

operates in 42 counties throughout Illinois, and last year they served 7,000 people. 

Caritas

While the group is known for foster care, they have several other programs: 

  • Adoption Services
  • Pregnancy Care
  • Fontabella Maternity Home
  • Intact Family Services 
  • St. John Bosco Children's Center
  • Integrated Living Arrangements
  • Assisted Living Apartments 
  • Senior Employment 
  • Counseling
  • Parenting Classes 
  • Anger Management 

News 3 spoke to Gary Huelsmann, the CEO of the organization, about its impact in the community.

He says they've reached hundreds of thousands of people through their work over the past 75 years. 

"It's left a literally a tangible legacy," Huelsmann explains. "On families being created. Families being helped. It's reduced suffering, and that has actually promoted a just and caring society." 

There's several examples of this reach throughout the community like locals eventually working for Caritas, after being adopted through the organization. As well as, board members who have been foster families.

Right now, the group is working to fill open positions. They're looking for case managers with big hearts. However, Huelsmann and other officials are also looking to the future and what the next 75 years holds. 

The goal is to expand their intact family services, which helps to prevent children from going into foster care by working with their parents.

Huelsmann says each family has their own challenges but they are some overlapping struggles they see. 

"They include poverty," he adds. "They include domestic violence. They include mental health issues. Depression, and anxiety,  and and other mental health issues that impact families and individuals." 

The intact family services helps parents work through those issues through case management, counseling, parenting classes, and by connecting them with other resources in the community.

There are many ways you can support the Caritas mission such as becoming a foster parent or volunteer.

Donations are always welcome to help support their programs as well. 

Tags

Brooke Schlyer is the midday producer and co-anchor. She also reports for the 4 p.m. newscast. 

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