Jackson County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Monday, July 13, 2009
Table 4-18: Jackson County Repetitive Flood Loss Structures Jurisdiction
Occupancy Type
Jackson County Carbondale Dowell Makanda Murphysboro
Single-Family Nonresidential Single-Family Single-Family Single-Family Totals
Number of Structures 1 2 1 1 1 6
Number of Losses 2 5 2 2 2 13
Total Paid $14,968.03 $48,388.27 $24,880.81 $18,899.18 $21,606.64 $139,11.68
Geographic Location for Flooding Most riverine floods in Illinois occur during either the spring or summer and are the result of excessive rainfall and/or the combination of rainfall and snowmelt. Flash flooding in Illinois can occur during anytime of the year, but tends to be less frequent and more localized between midsummer and early winter. The primary sources of river flooding in Jackson County are the Mississippi River, the Big Muddy River and its major tributaries. The major tributaries to the Big Muddy River include: Little Muddy River, Beaucoup Creek, Crab Orchard Creek, and Little Crab Orchard Creek. Flooding along the Big Muddy impacts the south and eastern portions of Murphysboro and often closes Town Creek Road. The Big Muddy can also impact major transportation routes such as US 51, State Routes 149 and 13. Flooding along the Little Muddy River can affect portions of Dowell and Elkville. Flooding of Crab Orchard and Little Crab Orchard Creek can impact parts of Carbondale. Flooding along Drury Creek can impact Makanda. Flash flooding in Jackson County typically occurs or is best documented in urban/developed areas. For example on November 11, 2005 major flash flooding was reported in Carbondale and Murphysboro. A co-operative observer measured 5.15 inches of rain in Carbondale from the overnight and early morning storms. An automated gage in Murphysboro measured 4.25 inches. Traffic was diverted from low-lying areas in Carbondale. Sewers backed up into homes and basements. On the campus of the Southern Illinois University, a couple of rooms in the Physical Plant were flooded. Major transportation routes in Jackson County affected by flash flooding include State Route 13 and US Route 51 through Carbondale, State Route 127 through Elkville and 149 through Murphysboro. The State of Illinois has recently completed the modernization of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Jackson County. These digital files (DFIRMs) were used to identify specific stream reaches for analysis. The areas of riverine flooding are depicted on the map in Appendix E. In Meeting #4, held on February 25, 2009, the planning team members listed a voluntary buyout option as a mitigation strategy for areas not protected by federally constructed levees (i.e., Mississippi River Floodplain) to alleviate damage to structures within the county’s flood plain. They identified potential hazard areas in which this program may prove valuable. The results are listed in Table 4-19.
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