DANVILLE — Rain fell hard and fast during a flood workshop held by the NAACP at the Three Kings of Peace Mentoring Center on Saturday.
A liittle over 3 inches fell within an hour, causing flooding in intersections and some roads.
The floodplain workshop focused on multiple ways of reducing flooding in the city from rain gardens to addressing the sewer and water infrastructure.
Rain gardens are shallow, plant-filled bowl-shaped depressions that soak up stormwater and filter pollution. Alongside targeted sewer and drainage upgrades across all neighborhoods to slow runoff, reduce flooding, and improve water quality.
A speaker from the University of Illinois extension office explained how to place rain gardens to help prevent flooding and backups of sewers.
“[The] target is the Cohen Street area. We’re talking about the Voorhees corridor,” said Deonte Brooks, the event organizer. “We’re talking about maybe the northwest part of town where there’s… concrete there, and all that does is when the rain hits that, it flows quickly…”
Portions of Voorhees Street were flooded on Saturday and a representative with the University of Extension Office said it was crucial for every neighborhood in a town to do its part to prevent flooding.
Reverend Frank McCullough, who is also running for mayor of Danville, talked about his history in Danville.
“I’ve seen the decline of the use of our sewer system here, and also our waterways… we believe that we know one reason why our water hangs up,” McCullough said. “I’m going to give you a net negative aspect of what happens when our water can hang up in our city in our sewer system.”
The Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department said the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River was closed on Saturday shortly after the torrential rains at noon.
“The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has determined that current conditions on the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River present a significant hazard to public safety,” VSCO said. “Swift currents, floating debris, submerged structures, and elevated water levels have created dangerous navigation conditions for recreational boaters. These conditions also pose substantial risks to emergency personnel who may be called upon to conduct water rescue operations.”
In all on Saturday, the area saw almost 5 inches of rain. Vermilion County Weather says they measured 4.76 inches. They say it ‘toppled the old record’ of 1.37 inches set in 1979.
McCullough during the workshop suggested the city obtain new piping for sewers.
“In my stint with the water company, I was able to work on the outside crew,’’ he said. “We would go out, and we would work on water mains. While we dug water main, we would work right beside the sewer system here in the city of Danville, so we know — we believe that we know — one reason why our water hangs up.”
The floodplain workshop proposals included working with the city to place things like rain gardens where they are needed, clearing vacant lots that flood, and looking for ways to upgrade the city’s sewer system. Alderman Ed Butler was present at the event and said they are planning on introducing a shortened version of Saturday’s event to the city council in the near future.