Flood recovery in Lawrence Co.

LAWRENCE COUNTY. Ill. (WTHI) - A flood ravaged Wabash Valley county takes two giant steps toward recovery. The June floods put almost one third of Lawrence County, Ill. underwater, destroying crops, homes and lives.

Now, the levees are repaired and the county has been accepted into the National Flood Insurance Program.

Lawrence County, Illinois suffered the worst flooding in a half century this June when high waters along the Wabash and Embarrass Rivers rolled over farmland and through homes.

The first big obstacle, the repair of the levees is complete.

"Everybody feels the pressure's off," said Embarrass Levee Commissioner Mike Seitzinger, "We don't have so much worries going into next spring, so we're doing good."

The second obstacle cleared from the flooding is also in place. The county's floodplain plan was approved by FEMA clearing the way for homeowners like Carmela Sholders to finally receive federal assistance.
 

"It was the best thing they ever did," said Sholders, "but I don't understand why they had to wait five months, almost five months to put it through."

For families like the Sholders, the FEMA money won't be enough to completely repair the house, fix the furniture or recover the memories lost in old pictures, but what it will do is give them some hope for the future.

"I'm just thankful now that I can straighten out things and get what I have to get and replace things without wondering how I'm going to do it," said Sholders.

The damage remains from the June flood, but with the changes and repairs perhaps this county can finally recover.

"It was just bad for everybody," said Seitzinger, "hopefully, we're on a healing process now and we can go forward and get on with our lives."

Lives that were ripped apart by flood waters that are now long gone. With Lawrence County's Flood Plain Ordinance now accepted by FEMA anyone looking to make improvements to their property in the unincorporated areas will be required to purchase a permit at the courthouse.