City’s Floodwall Nearly Finished: Flood Fighters Assigned To Wall Watch Thursday Night

Press release from the City of Peoria:

May 21, 2020

Public Works Flood Fighters are nearly finished constructing a nearly 2,000 foot long sandbag wall as of Thursday, May 21. The barrier is intended to defend the historic River Station against encroaching Illinois River flood waters. As of 8 a.m., Thursday, floodwaters hit 27.24 feet, with the projected crest slated for 27.9 feet on Friday according to rivergages.com – bringing the potential for one of the top 10 record setting floods for the Illinois River at Peoria.

With the wall nearly finished, Flood Fighters are transitioning to the reactive phase of their flood fighting efforts – monitoring, maintaining the structure and running several water pumps to keep control of any encroaching water. The process is a routine part of their flood response efforts.

Beginning Thursday evening, 24/7 wall watch operations will be in place, with a crew of two workers remaining onsite to monitor conditions and pumps around the clock. They will be looking for any breaches in the wall, seepage or leaks to maintain the wall’s integrity.

“This week is evidence of the outstanding professional abilities of Public Works and our role as first responders. Budget constraints have made us a smaller, but mighty force that rises to the occasion whenever our City is in need,” said Sie Maroon, Public Works Assistant Director of Operations. “Our team is the backbone of the City when the unexpected happens. We keep things moving forward, even in times of emergency or crisis.”

An additional floodwall may be erected along Water Street, should the need arise. Businesses and restaurants located within River Station and along Water Street to Harrison Street are still accessible and open for business.

This press release was produced by the City of Peoria. The views expressed here are the author’s own.