Weather warnings from KWQC-TV6 and the City of Morrison interrupted the evening of Friday, July 21, 2017.
Television coverage noted a severe thunderstorm was approaching, with 70 MPH wind gusts.
At 7:17 p.m., a tornado rotation had been noted by Radar, near Fairhaven, IL, eight miles north of Morrison, IL.
At 7:30 Radar indicated hail.
“Damaging winds and flash floods are of greatest concern,” the weather report announced.
City of Morrison Police Chief Brian Melton’s two voice messages indicated tornado warnings. The siren roared across town, urging citizens to take shelter.
The third warning was of a severe thunderstorm–which followed almost on cue. Wind gusts and lightening were apparent through the night.
On Sunday, July 23, bright skies, comfortable temperatures, and mild breezes belied the earlier reports but stood in contrast to the resulting flood damage. Some residents were contending with the flooding of Rock Creek.
Although water steadfastly raced to join the Rock River, it was still rising.
From the Whiteside County Covered Bridge, Norrish Road to the north and Crosby Road to the west were blocked to traffic.
Schuler Motors, Inc., 727 W. Linconlway, sits beside Rock Creek, and is a location of great concern when it overflows its banks. The Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office notified owner Mark Schuler of the rising water, at 3:30 a.m., Saturday, July 22. With the help of three others, Schuler had moved 60 vehicles by 7:00 a.m. At 9:00 p.m., he stated, water was still coming into the car dealership.
“There was a foot of water in there [Saturday], but only about one inch now [on Sunday afternoon]. We’ll be cleaning all day tomorrow. We’ve been through this before.” He quipped, “We have high water and low prices!”
On the opposite side of Rock Creek, Morrison Historical Society President Harvey Zuidema monitored the rising water at Annan Mill. He and other Trustees raised garage items onto cement blocks and moved inside items to dry locations. Zuidema noted by Sunday afternoon the water at the side door entrance step had receeded from that morning.
Rock Creek overflow wraps around the mill, crosses an access road to the residence of Beth Schroeder, and creeps up the road toward U. S. Route 30. Zuidema placed a rock on the driveway to locate how high the water had oozed. It collects below the raised road at the west side.
Beside Annan Mill, Charlie Lange kayaked in the calm water, on Sunday afternoon. His children, Sophie and Eli, also enjoyed the unexpected appearance of the shallow “lake.”
