The rising Illinois River levels mark the fourth worst flood in the river's history. Along that river in Chillicothe businesses have been fighting the flood waters. News 25's Krystina Russell waded through those waters today and she has the story.
With the Illinois River flood waters reaching 27feet, nine feet above flood stage, so some Chillicothe businesses are feeling soggy. And for the owner of Bananas Beach Club, that makes last September's flood seem like a dry run.
"I don't know how much higher it's going to come up before its does down. So yeah it's going to be worst than it was in September" said Dick Bush.
Bananas Beach Club fell victim to last September's flood and was forced to close 25 days for renovations. And since Wednesday they've had to close once again, as 18 inches of water have seeped into the business. Bush added,
"It's about eight or nine inches deeper than it was two days ago."
It's a tale of two businesses in Chillicothe. Bananas may draw the deep end of the flood plain, but down the road the River Beach Pub in South Rome still has its doors open.
"We are open and we don't plan on closing at all. The water is not going to get up to us" exclaimed Brenda Erikson the pubs owner.
The Pub's biggest problem is a blocked entrance from flooding on Layne Street, which does not compare to the renovations Bananas will see in the near future. Bush rattled off some of the tasks at hand,
"Yeah, we'll have to repaint, the river stains. It usually won't go away. You have to repaint it and there will be a lot of clean up. We'll have to take all of there boards back off."
The river is expected to crest Saturday afternoon.
But until then, Bush is waiting out the water optimistically.
"Just wait till the water goes down. Get the clean up crew in. Of course call the insurance company. Always gotta do that."
Survival in a checklist for the Chillicothe business owner, who is not letting the water dampen his spirits. In Chillicothe, I'm Krystina Russell.
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