Levee Breaches Cause More Flooding in Jasper, Crawford Counties; US 40 at Vandalia is Open

Levee breaches caused more flooding in Jasper and Crawford counties Wednesday, but no evacuations were necessary and no one was injured.

(LISTENER JOSHUA LEVI SENT THIS PHOTO OF FLOODING FROM A LEVEE BREAK LOOKING WEST TOWARD WILLOW HILL)

Jasper County Sheriff Rick Britton said Crawford County authorities notified his office just after daybreak of a breach in the Greenbriar bottoms on the Crawford County side of the Jasper/Crawford county line. Britton said the area is south of Oblong and north of Chauncey. Then, around 12:30pm, there were reports of additional breaches and the levee broke through about 1pm.

The sheriff said some sandbagging was done in a couple of spots north of Ste. Marie, and the levee held. Britton said water levels have already dropped more than a foot in the area of the breaches. He said there are a few houses "on an island" caused by the flood waters, but neighbors have kept in touch and there is no danger for those involved.

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Good news from Fayette County...the Fayette County Sheriff's Department confirms that US Route 40 between Vandalia and Bluff City has been re-opened to traffic.