(Carbondale, IL)  —  There’s a disaster declaration in place, and sandbag crews are already out in force in southern Illinois. The area south of I-70 is bracing for the worst of this week’s flooding. Governor Rauner yesterday ordered the state’s Emergency Operations Center open to monitor the flooding. Forecasters say communities along the Mississippi River south of St. Louis, and along the Big Muddy will see the worst of the flooding.