Water levels topping the Salem Reservoir spillway continue to go down. After peaking at 20 inches above the spillway at noon, the water going over the spillway is now under 10 inches.
With water levels in Town Creek declining, Salem Public Works Director Travis Sanders says residents can return to the Starlight Mobile Home Court where residents were asked to leave Tuesday morning. Ameren Illinois has indicated they will have power restored by 6:30 Tuesday night. The electricity was disconnected as a safety precaution due to the rising water.
Salem City Manager Annette Sola asked for residents of Starlight to evacuate Tuesday morning as water levels were rising quickly and appeared to be headed over the 18 inch above spillway level where a flood watch is issued for Town Creek below the reservoir. She feared if residents waited to leave they may not be able to get their vehicles out on the roadway that was starting to flood.
Sola said all but one residence left their home. The Salem Community Activity Center was set up as a shelter, but the community center reports no one utilized the building.
