City of Pontiac issued the following announcement on Jan. 9.
On Friday January 10th, 2020 the National Weather Service had issued a River Flood Warning for the Vermilion River at Pontiac from Sunday 11:00AM CST until Tuesday 12:00 AM CST. The warning states the following: “Flood Warning for The Vermilion River at Pontiac, or from Near Pontiac downstream to IL-23 near Streator from Sunday morning to late Monday night. At 9:45 AM Friday the stage was at 3.5 feet. Flood stage is 14.0 feet. Moderate flooding is forcasted to rise above flood stage by late Sunday morning and crest near 15.0 feet by Sunday evening. Impact….15.0 feet…Low-lying residences threatened between Mill Street and Chautauqua Park in Pontiac. IL-116 threatened east and west of Pontiac.”
The Pontiac Fire Department would like citizens to exercise caution around rising water and follow these safety tips during the time period leading up to and during the flood warning:
Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Please TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN! Even just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
Stay off of walking bridges over fast-moving water.
Be aware of the risk of electrocution. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water.
Gather supplies in case you have to leave immediately, or if services are cut off. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Don’t forget the needs of pets. Obtain extra batteries and charging devices for phones and other critical equipment.
Avoid wading in floodwater, which can contain dangerous debris and be contaminated. Underground or downed power lines can also electrically charge the water.
Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machinery ONLY outdoors and away from windows.
The Pontiac Fire Department has taken the necessary steps to be prepared for these types of events and are ready to assist our citizens if needed. We will continue to monitor river levels and weather conditions during the next couple of days. We encourage all citizens to also monitor the weather conditions throughout the weekend. Please exercise awareness and be safe.
Original source can be found here.
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