( KTRS ) Governor Bruce Rauner has added 5 more counties to the state disaster declaration for widespread flooding.

This brings the statewide total of declared counties to 12. The counties added are Alexander, Christian, Clinton, Douglas and Morgan.

On Tuesday, Gov. Rauner declared Calhoun, Jackson, Jersey, Madison, Monroe, Randolph and St. Clair counties. Rauner will return to Springfield Thursday evening and will spend the following several days in Central and Southern Illinois viewing flood damage.

A state disaster declaration makes a wide variety of state resources available that can help communities respond and recover from flooding. Such resources include sandbags, pumps, trucks and other heavy equipment and other assistance to ensure public safety.