Evacuation in Nashville, Illinois: Danger of Dam Failure Due to Heavy Rain

Due to heavy rainfall and the impending danger of a dam breach, residents of Nashville, Illinois, were instructed to leave their homes on Tuesday. This measure impacts approximately 3,200 residents of the small town, which is located about 55 miles southeast of St. Louis. The Washington County Emergency Management Agency issued an alert and ordered immediate evacuation. An explicit warning was issued regarding an "imminent" breach of the Nashville Dam as severe storms hit the region. Large parts of south-central Illinois, including Washington County, were under a flash flood warning on Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service in St. Louis reported already receiving 2 to 5 inches of rain in some areas, with an additional 1 to 3 inches expected. The severe weather on Tuesday followed intense thunderstorms on Monday night in the Chicago metropolitan area, where tornadoes and strong winds were reported. The weather service also warned of "life-threatening flash floods" in streams, highways, and roads throughout the region and urgently advised moving to higher ground immediately. This report is continuously updated.