Flood Gamble

[JandC]

24' cargo trailer all loaded with belongings and ready to haul to our new house in Florida. Our CG in central Illinois sits on the Illinois River and we knew the water level was going to rise to 22 feet. We talked to numerous folks (2 marina operators, CG manager, and others) who said it wouldn't go past 22.5.

At 23.5 the make all the RV's leave and shut down the power. At 24' it finally gets to my site. It is now going to crest at 25.3' late Friday. Just got down to Cape Coral late last night and got the call, my Montana and DW's car has to be moved by Thursday morning early.

Made numerous calls while on the road yesterday and got very lucky. My buddy just arrived in the Peoria area in his fiver, which has a 6-point level up. He and his DW are going to my CG this morning and use his truck to move my Montana to high ground!

I dodged a bullet with him being in the area. I would have had to unload down here, then turn around the drive 1300 miles back to Illinois by early tomorrow morning.

[dieselguy]

With the change in weather patterns as each year passes ... alot of us aren't putting too much weight in past experiences as to high water marks. We've seen rain past all recollections in MO, KS, OK, and TX this spring and early summer. Campgrounds are under water way deeper than anytime before. It's going to cut in to park ability to generate revenue big time if this continues into summer.

[DQDick]

Glad it worked out. Friends do come in handy. Lot's of revenue lost already. Memorial day thru the Fourth are the biggest days for the COE up here and their toast for campsites during that time.

[JandC]

In 2013 this part of the Illinois river flooded to a 40 year record at just under 30'. CG manager said it cost them over $40,000 with lost revenue and costs to electricians.

We really like this CG, it is centrally located for visiting our kids in the summer, we get our same site back each year, plus it is only $325 a month total for full hook-ups. But we are going to have to reconsider using it now for extended stays. Six times in 13 years it has now flooded at or past the mark where everyone has to leave.