On April 3, 2018, Kickapoo Creek spilled its banks after four to six inches of rain fell in about nine hours. Five Mattoon homes took three to five feet of water, eleven people were evacuated, water rescues were performed across the area, Illinois Route 16 closed in several spots, and I-57 shut down between mile markers 184 and 192. Just south of town, Lakeland College cancelled classes. It wasn't a fluke — Mattoon flooded again in similar events around 2021 and 2022, closing US 45, IL 16/Charleston Avenue, and IL 316/DeWitt Avenue with "flooded yards, streets and basements," per WCIA.
Running underneath the city is a second problem the state has been ordering Mattoon to fix for decades: a combined-sewer system whose overflows reach the Little Wabash, Riley Creek, and Kickapoo Creek basins. And the town itself is a railroad original — founded as "Pegtown" in 1854 at the Illinois Central and Terre Haute & Alton crossing, later named for William Mattoon — with affordable ranch-style homes on big lots that mix basements, aging supply lines, and a storm system not built for modern cloudbursts. Rapid Water Damage Restoration Illinois answers 24/7 for Mattoon at (773) 200-3228.
Common causes of water damage in Mattoon
- Kickapoo Creek flash flooding. The creek flows through and near Mattoon, and it rises fast: on April 3, 2018, 4–6 inches in nine hours put 3–5 feet of water into five houses, forced eleven evacuations, and closed I-57. The city's wastewater plant discharges to the creek, so floodwater here is contaminated — not something to pump out yourself.
- Repeat cloudburst events. Around 2021, Coles County Airport recorded 2.89 inches in a few hours with radar estimates of 3–6 inches over Mattoon, activating the Lincoln Fire District dive team. Around 2022, radar estimated 4–8 inches in under twelve hours, flooding areas near the Hucks store on the east side, downtown, and the west side, stalling vehicles and stranding motorists.
- Combined sewers the state ordered fixed. A Pollution Control Board order on Mattoon's CSO discharges requires separate sanitary and non-sanitary pipes in new buildings, bans new residential downspout connections to combined sewers, and mandates storm/sanitary separation whenever streets are reconstructed or areas redeveloped. Until that separation is complete, heavy rain can still back sewage into basements.
- Rail-town ranch stock with basements. Affordable ranches on expansive lots — average values near $144,000 in the 61938 ZIP — commonly include basements that sit at the intersection of creek flooding, combined-sewer surcharge, and aging foundation waterproofing.
- Severe-storm precedent. The May 26, 1917 F4 tornado destroyed 496 homes and severely damaged 143 in a 2.5-mile swath, killing 53. Period surveys noted the hardest-hit cottages north of DeWitt Avenue had no basements. Torn roofs still convert every big storm into an interior-water event here.
Areas we serve in Mattoon
We respond throughout Mattoon in ZIPs 61938 and 61928: downtown around the Amtrak station, the east side near the Hucks store, the west side, the DeWitt Avenue and Charleston Avenue (IL 16) corridors, the Peterson Park neighborhood, the Dodge Grove Park and cemetery area, the Lone Elm landmark at 32nd Street and Western Avenue, and south toward Lake Land College. Call (773) 200-3228 any time, day or night.
How We Restore Water-Damaged Homes in Mattoon
- Fast triage on your first call. Ring (773) 200-3228 and we'll ask the three questions that matter: where the water came from, how deep it is, and whether drains or toilets are involved — so we arrive staged for creek floodwater versus sewer backup.
- Stop it, then pump it. We help you kill the source where possible, then high-capacity extractors clear standing water from basements, crawlspaces, and ground floors immediately.
- Map the moisture in ranch construction. Ranch homes hide water in wall bases, under flooring, and in basement framing. We map it with meters and thermal imaging so nothing gets sealed up wet.
- Dry with verification, then sanitize. Air movers and dehumidifiers run until readings confirm true dryness; floodwater- and sewage-contacted surfaces are disinfected and deodorized.
- Rebuild and build your claim file. We replace what can't be saved and hand you photos, moisture logs, and itemized records that speak your adjuster's language.
Water damage restoration services in Mattoon
Water extraction
Truck-mounted and portable extraction for creek floodwater, sump-pump failures, and burst pipes — built for events that fill a basement in hours.
Structural drying and dehumidification
Industrial drying verified by moisture meter, tuned to ranch framing, basement walls, and finished lower levels.
Mold remediation
After creek floods and sewer backups, mold establishes in days. We contain, remove, and treat contaminated materials to IICRC standards.
Sewage cleanup
Mattoon's combined-sewer history makes this a core service: full containment, extraction, safe disposal of unsalvageable materials, and disinfection for category-3 backups.
Storm damage repair
Wind-torn roofs and broken windows admit rain even when no creek leaves its banks — we dry the interior and coordinate repairs to pre-loss condition.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in Mattoon on April 3, 2018?
Four to six inches of rain fell in about nine hours, and Kickapoo Creek spilled its banks. Five Mattoon houses flooded with three to five feet of water, eleven people were evacuated, water rescues were performed, IL-16 closed in several spots, and I-57 closed between mile markers 184 and 192. Lakeland College, just south of the city, cancelled classes.
What did the state order about Mattoon's combined sewers?
The Illinois Pollution Control Board issued an order on Mattoon's combined-sewer-overflow discharges covering the Little Wabash, Riley Creek, and Kickapoo Creek basins. It required separate sanitary and non-sanitary pipes from new buildings, prohibited new residential downspout connections to combined sewers, and mandated storm and sanitary separation whenever streets are reconstructed or areas redeveloped.
Why can't I connect my downspouts to the city sewer?
Because the Board's order prohibits new residential downspout connections to Mattoon's combined sewers. Every downspout tied into the system adds stormwater that the combined pipes can't always carry — which is exactly what pushes sewage back into basements during cloudbursts. Disconnect and direct downspouts away from your foundation instead.
What was the 1917 Mattoon tornado?
On May 26, 1917, an F4 tornado struck around 3:30 p.m., destroying 496 homes and severely damaging 143 in a swath 2.5 miles long. Fifty-three people were killed in Mattoon and 409 injured, with about $1.3 million in damage in 1917 dollars; some 2,500 people were left homeless. Damage surveys noted the hardest-hit cottages north of DeWitt Avenue had no basements.
Why do the same roads keep closing during Mattoon floods?
The low crossings flood first: US 45, IL 16/Charleston Avenue, and IL 316/DeWitt Avenue all closed during the ~2021 event, and I-57 closed between mile markers 184 and 192 in 2018. If your route home crosses Kickapoo Creek's corridor, expect standing water during flash-flood warnings — and never drive through it.
I own a ranch home with a basement. What should I watch for?
Mattoon's ranch stock pairs basements with two system-level risks: creek flash flooding and combined-sewer surcharge. Watch for floor-drain backups during heavy rain, seepage where the foundation meets the footing, and sump pumps that can't keep up. A backwater valve on your lateral and a battery-backed sump are the two upgrades our technicians recommend most here.
Cost factors & insurance claim help
No scripted pricing — every Mattoon loss is scoped on its facts. Cost turns on the water's category (Kickapoo Creek floodwater and combined-sewer backup are both contaminated, which means removal and sanitization rather than simple drying), how much of the structure stayed wet and for how long, and the age of the home's materials. You'll approve a written, itemized scope before we start, and we work directly with your insurer — photos, moisture logs, and line-item estimates — from first call to final walkthrough.
Get 24/7 water damage help in Mattoon
Kickapoo Creek doesn't wait, and neither does a sewer backup. Rapid Water Damage Restoration Illinois answers around the clock across Mattoon — call (773) 200-3228 now for fast extraction, verified drying, and complete restoration.
Rapid Water Damage Restoration Illinois is a locally owned Illinois water damage restoration company, available 24/7 for emergencies. Our IICRC-trained technicians handle water extraction, structural drying, mold remediation, and sewage cleanup — and we work directly with your insurance company from first call to final walkthrough. Call (773) 200-3228 anytime, day or night.
Water Damage in Mattoon? We Respond 24/7
Every minute counts. Rapid Water Damage Restoration Illinois dispatches certified technicians across Mattoon day and night — with insurance documentation handled for you.
Call (773) 200-3228 NowWater Damage Restoration Services in Mattoon
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Nearby Areas We Serve Around Mattoon
Helpful Water Damage Guides
- Sewage Backup Cleanup: Health Risks & Pro Help
- What to Do When Your Basement Floods: A Step-by-Step Emergency Guide
Official resources: FEMA FloodSmart (flood insurance) and EPA guide to mold and moisture.