At least one person was killed Monday night when a powerful and destructive derecho plowed across the Midwest, bringing hurricane-force wind gusts and tornadoes to the Chicago area that toppled trees and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of utility customers.
NASHVILLE, Ill. — Emergency officials said residents in some neighborhoods of Nashville, Illinois, are being urged to evacuate after a nearby dam is imminently failing.
Recent heavy rains triggered Flash Flood Warnings in the region Tuesday morning, and flood waters overtopped the dam behind the Nashville City Reservoir.
“Attention the failure of the Nashville dam is imminent,” Washington County (Illinois) emergency managers wrote, adding a map shading an area at risk of flooding downstream. “If you are in the grey box, you need to evacuate now!”
Two shelters have been opened in the area.
The National Weather Service in St. Louis estimates 2-5 inches of rain had fallen in heavy thunderstorms so far Tuesady with another 1-3 inches likely to fall.
In addition to the dam failure, numerous roads are closed around Nashville due to flash flooding, with sewers backing up, according to National Weather Service storm reports. An 11-mile stretch of Interstate 64 is closed through that area.
Flash flooding in Illinois
(FOX Weather)
“Washington County is experiencing an emergency flood situation,” Washington County EM said. “Stay at home unless evacuations are needed.”