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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 Franklin and Williamson
Counties.

.One more round of moderate rainfall is expected today before we
begin to dry out. The Big Muddy River will rise above flood stage
this afternoon and crest next week.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.

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

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

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

Additional information is available at www.weather.gov.

&&

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

* WHAT...Moderate flooding is forecast.

* WHERE...Big Muddy River near Plumfield.

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

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 10:00 AM CDT Saturday the stage was 18.1 feet.
- Forecast...The river will rise above flood stage this
afternoon to 28.5 feet early Monday morning. It will then
fall Tuesday evening. It will rise to 28.1 feet early
Wednesday afternoon. It will then fall again but remain above
flood stage.
- Flood stage is 20.0 feet.
- Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of
28.6 feet on 05/02/2017.


&&

Weather Alert

The National Weather Service in Paducah has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
Franklin County in south central Illinois...
Johnson County in southern Illinois...
Pulaski County in southern Illinois...
Williamson County in southern Illinois...

* Until 1230 PM CDT.

* At 817 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 4 and 8 inches of rain
have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Marion, Herrin, West Frankfort, Benton, Carterville, Johnston
City, Christopher, Vienna, Rend Lake Area, Sesser, Zeigler,
Crainville, Cambria, Royalton, Energy, Goreville, Mounds, Hurst,
Valier and West City.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&


FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

Weather Alert

.The forecast of up to a foot of rain is on track, with many
locations nearing that total and experiencing widespread flooding.
Additional heavy rain will only exacerbate ongoing flooding and make
it even worse and more widespread.

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

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues. Additional
heavy rains will only exacerbate ongoing flooding and make it
worse and more widespread...resulting in particularly dangerous
situations.

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

* WHEN...Through Sunday morning.

* IMPACTS...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 and flooding
of creeks and rivers are possible. Area creeks and streams are
running high and could flood with more heavy rain. Be prepared as
rising water levels may cause particularly dangerous situations
where evacuations could become necessary.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- Flash flooding and flooding caused by excessive rainfall is
expected. With the forecast on track and radar estimates and
spotter reports confirming many locations already having
received between 4 and 10 inches, anticipated additional
bouts of heavy rain will put everyone in the half foot to
foot range. A few isolated totals greater than a foot are not
out of the question. These amounts and resultant flooding
creates a particularly dangerous situation.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the latest forecasts and be alert for additional Flash Flood
and Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should
be prepared to take action should flooding develop or worsen.

&&

Illinois bill could help crime victims get reimbursed faster

  • Updated
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The Illinois General Assembly has passed a bill designed to strengthen and clarify the Crime Victim Compensation Act.

The Illinois General Assembly has passed a bill designed to strengthen and clarify the Crime Victim Compensation Act.

CARTERVILLE, Ill. (WSIL)-- The Illinois General Assembly has passed a bill designed to strengthen and clarify the Crime Victim Compensation Act. 

Victims and survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence can be left with more than the scars of the crimes, they can also face a financial cost too.

Melisa Kelly is the Advocacy program director at the Sexual Assault and Family Emergencies (SAFE) crises center in Mount Vernon.

“So expenses wise, it covers medical, hospital, dental, mental health, treatment, lost wages, and accessibility costs,� Kelly says.

She's helped many people apply for crime victim compensation and says it has some constraints.

“They have to notify law enforcement of the crime occurrence within seven days. Then they have two years from the time that they've reported that to file an application,� Kelly said.  

Recently Illinois lawmakers unanimously passed Senate Bill 3717  in both houses to ease the application process and reduce long delays in waiting for compensation. Kelly says the victims of sexual assault or domestic violence survivors can end up with a lot of expenses. 

â€ÀáÌýpersonally have had some parents apply to the fund for lost wages,â€� Kelly says. “They're having to take off work to take them to a child forensic interview.â€�

That's why State Representative Maurice West says it is important to help victims receive compensation quickly.

“The biggest thing that we are focused on is streamlining the process to ensure that survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and the like are able to become whole again,� West said. 

West says a lot of people experience long processing delays, sometimes up to two years. 

“The longer we take in providing assistance to survivors who did not ask to go through this the deeper they are potentially going through traumatic experiences within their minds,� West said.

But easing the process could also help take some financial strain off organizations like SAFE who Kelly says has seen some budget cuts.

We don't have the funds to help people relocate even temporarily,� Kelly said.

The bill is now on the Governor's desk for approval.Â