From late 2015 to early 2016, rivers in both Missouri and Illinois reached record levels after the area experienced almost 30 inches of rainfall. Due to flooding along the Mississippi, Meramec, and Bourbeuse Rivers, thousands of homes, businesses, and public buildings were damaged. At least 14 people died in the state of Missouri and at least eight people died in the state of Illinois. Operation BBQ Relief volunteers deployed to St. Louis, at Missouri city that borders Illinois, to provide the healing power of BBQ to those impacted.