After several rounds of precipitation over Central Illinois during the first couple weeks of May, area rivers rose above flood stage at most locations.   The following rivers were in flood during May:  Spoon River, Illinois River, Mackinaw River, Sangamon River, Embarras River and the Little Wabash.  The death of the 8 year old boy in Mason county occurred when he was playing in a boat that was tied to the shore in a flooded part of the Illinois River.  The rope got loose and the boat started to drift away.  He panicked and jumped into the water and drowned.  As far as property damage is concerned, not too many homes were affected despite record or near record crests on many of the rivers in Central Illinois.  Since the 1993 floods, many levies were built or existing ones were extended to prevent widespread flooding.  The Mechanicsburg (Sangamon Co.) water treatment plant was inundated on the 13th by the Sangamon River.  Also, several homes in the Riverton and Rochester areas were flooded due to the Sangamon River.  In Cass County, the Bell Levy near Chandlerville was breached on the 15th.  This caused Illinois Route 78 to be closed and seven homes were affected by the water.  In southeastern Illinois, the Embarras River crested at a record 24.27 feet on May 16th in Lawrenceville.  Several homes in town near the river were flooded.  In southwestern Crawford County, a levy on the Embarras River near Landes was breached on the evening of the 14th.  No structures were threatened, but several roads and farm fields in the area were flooded.

Flood in LAWRENCE, ILLINOIS
From 13-MAY-02 11:00:00 to 20-MAY-02 02:30:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in JASPER, ILLINOIS
From 13-MAY-02 11:00:00 to 19-MAY-02 17:55:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in SANGAMON, ILLINOIS
From 13-MAY-02 17:00:00 to 21-MAY-02 11:15:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in MENARD, ILLINOIS
From 12-MAY-02 20:30:00 to 22-MAY-02 22:30:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in TAZEWELL, ILLINOIS
From 14-MAY-02 23:00:00 to 27-MAY-02 00:30:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in FULTON, ILLINOIS
From 13-MAY-02 17:00:00 to 31-MAY-02 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in MARSHALL, ILLINOIS
From 13-MAY-02 06:00:00 to 30-MAY-02 03:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in PEORIA, ILLINOIS
From 14-MAY-02 23:00:00 to 27-MAY-02 00:30:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in MASON, ILLINOIS
From 12-MAY-02 20:30:00 to 31-MAY-02 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in SCHUYLER, ILLINOIS
From 13-MAY-02 11:00:00 to 31-MAY-02 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in WOODFORD, ILLINOIS
From 14-MAY-02 23:00:00 to 27-MAY-02 00:30:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in CRAWFORD, ILLINOIS
From 13-MAY-02 11:00:00 to 20-MAY-02 00:30:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in MORGAN, ILLINOIS
From 13-MAY-02 16:00:00 to 31-MAY-02 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in CASS, ILLINOIS
From 12-MAY-02 20:30:00 to 31-MAY-02 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in SCOTT, ILLINOIS
From 13-MAY-02 16:00:00 to 31-MAY-02 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.