Residents sandbag as Illinois River continues to rise

RUSHVILLE, Ill. — Sandbagging is underway in Illinois after record-setting rains devastate much of the Midwest.

People in the town of Rushville, Illinois are on high alert as the Illinois River continues to rise. The town is about an hour away from Springfield.

Among the volunteers working to project the town's water system is State Senator John Sullivan.

"It really makes everybody feel good when there's a disaster like this and the community needs help and you get a request and 20, 30, 40, 50 people show up," said Sullivan.

Volunteers are filling around 4,000 sandbags.

Similar operations are under way in several other communities located on the banks of the Illinois River.

Forecasters predict more rainfall this week. And river levels are expected to reach record highs.