PONTIAC - Roger Weber fired up a generator outside of his mother's house Friday morning on Lyon Street in Pontiac to pump 6 feet of water out of her basement. | New photo gallery | Thursday's photos | Reader-submitted photos | Complete coverage | Videos: 1 | 2 | 3

He knew he had a lot of work ahead of him. After the water was pumped out, attention would turn to drying out the furnace and other equipment so the utilities could be restored.

"Right now we've got to wait until we get her pumped out," Weber said. "It's going to take a long time to drain out."

Then there would be the piles or ruined belongings, such as stored clothes, to deal with.

"Everything down there is junk," he said. "It's floating around right now."

Similar stories unfolded Friday across Pontiac as the Vermilion River receded from what may have been a record flood, leaving a muddy mess in its wake. As the water drained away, people moved in to clean up, assess damage and brace for the work ahead.

At Washington Elementary School, meanwhile, district employees and volunteers hauled debris by the cartload to a commercial trash bin outside. The school, which had 6 inches of water inside on Thursday, remains closed while officials clean up and assess what repairs are needed.

Heavy rain Monday night and Tuesday pushed the Vermilion River above the 14-foot flood stage on Tuesday. While the National Weather Service records the official crest of the river as 18.81 feet about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, city officials say it reached 19.5 feet, breaking the 1982 record of 19.2 feet.

Regardless, everyone agreed Friday that the river was dropping fast, and that was good news.

Estimates as of 3:30 p.m. Friday indicated that the river has dropped by 45 inches, and that the rate was accelerating from about an inch an hour to 2 inches per hour.

It was expected to drop bellow flood stage sometime in the early hours of today. The weather service predicted Friday night the level would be 13.2 feet by noon today.

"The flood stage for the Vermilion River is 14 feet, and the (flood) warning will continue until the water drops below the flood stage," said Chris Gitro, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Romeo-ville.

Pontiac Mayor Scott McCoy said he was definitely happy to hear about the rate of decrease, and he was thankful for all of the support the city received from numerous organizations during the flood.

"I'm ecstatic at the level of aid that we are receiving from the multiple agencies, including state, county and surrounding areas," he said. The Illinois Emergency Management Association "has been an invalu-able service and has been with us every step of the way."

McCoy said that IEMA will start its preliminary damage assessment on Monday, and that information then will go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which will do its own assessment.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich proclaimed Livingston and Iroquois counties to be a state disaster areas on Wednesday, making the eligible for recovery assistance.

IEMA also may have Blagojevich write President Bush to request declaration to make them eligible for federal aid.

More than 100 homes had been evacuated in the course of the flooding, but those people were going home or finding new places to stay on Friday.

About two dozen people stayed at the Pontiac Community Recreation Center after the flooding began, but all had food alternate housing by Friday afternoon. The center, which is attached to Pontiac Town-ship High School, was being cleaned Friday, but Jerry Hayner, the city's parks and recreation superin-tendent, said it was still available for people whose homes had no electricity or heat.

Pontiac Fire Chief John Cummins and Pontiac Police Chief Dale Newsome said their operations were back to normal as of Friday afternoon.

Newsome said the evacuees were thankful for the help and expressed no complaints.

"We are very happy with the level of cooperation with the citizens, and that cooperation is really in-valuable," Newsome said. "They were just so glad to be able to get out."

Street Superintendent Chris Brock said road access continued to improve. As of Friday afternoon, ar-eas of Douglas, Livingston and Water streets had only minor flooding, and areas around West Water Street were still blocked off.

At the height of the flood, more than 40 streets were blocked and the water covered much of the city's southern, eastern and northern sides.

Brock also said that there shouldn't be any more problems getting from the north to the south side of town. The river runs east to west through the city.

Brock said he turned his attention Friday toward street cleaning, which he said he expects to be a three- to four-week process.

Rain fell throughout the Livingston County area Friday, but a trace amount was expected, which would have no effect on the flood, Gitro said.

Scattered showers and possible snow are expected today and Sunday.

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Flood recovery

The Pontiac Police Department has released information on the cleanup effort and numerous phone numbers for assistance, volunteering or donations.

Who to call

- To request cleanup assistance, volunteer to help or make a supply donation: (815) 844-3396

- Utility questions and requests: (815) 844-1038

- Storm-related emergencies issues: (815) 844-5148

- American Red Cross assistance: (866) 438-4636. The American Red Cross Service Center in town will serve as a central command for relief operations.

Food donations

Local food pantries will help to coordinate distribution and donation of foods. If you would like to donate food, please call ahead of time for specific needs.

- Livingston County Community Pantry, 420 N. Plum St., (815) 844-1039. Open 10 a.m. to noon today with extended hours possible.

- First Baptist Church Food Pantry, 515 N. Ladd St., (815) 842-4321. Open from 8 a.m. to noon today.

- St. Vincent DePaul, St. Mary's Catholic Church, 505 N. Chicago St., (815) 844-7683. Open from 8 a.m. to noon today with extended hours as needed.

Other donations

- The Salvation Army, 112 N. Division St., will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today to distribute and accept clothing donations and food. They are in need of any clothing donation and specifically in need of undergarments and socks for adults and children. They also need pillows and blankets. Housing arrangements also are possible. Call (815) 844-5005.

- The Pontiac Ministerial Association will coordinate cleaning volunteers. Call (815) 844-3396.

Garbage pickup

Garbage pickup will resume Monday. Cleanup is expected to last for several weeks, and the city of Pontiac is urging residents to use four separate piles for their garbage. Garbage piles should not be near a fire hydrant. The piles should be:

- Metal and appliances

- Brush and plant materials

- Sandbags

- Standard household garbage

SOURCES: City of Pontiac, relief agencies