Flood Cleanup Efforts Still underway in Chicago after Weekend Storm

Massive cleanup efforts are under way once again in Chicago after Saturday’s record-breaking rainfall. Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights and Elk Grove Village are probably the worst-hit areas of the region.

A state of emergency was declared in Des Plaines on Saturday by Mayor Marty Moylan. While most of the streets in the city remained open Sunday, according to Fire Captain Scott Peirson, Des Plaines, the city maintained Golf Road connecting Oakton Community College and East River Road remained closed for most of the day. There were also some stranded vehicles on certain roads.

Scott Peirson stated that residents should not walk through standing water as it may not only lead to contamination, but one could also fall into the open manholes or get dragged into a current and drown. He advised that firefighters should keep the sticks in front of them while walking through the floodwaters to find open manholes or sewers.
Sandbags and sand were placed at Christ Church at Cora Street and Henry Avenue, Big Bend Drive, Hawthorne Lane, Howard Avenue and River Road.

Residents were advised to put the items damaged by flooding and the flood debris along the curbs for pickup. Home and Business owners were asked to check the drains of their roofs for blockages. Any blockage should be removed to avoid accumulation of water on roofs.

Randy Uidl, Mount Prospect’s Fire Battalion Chief, said that many basements were flooded by sewer backup and retention ponds were full. Residents were seen taking out the items, such as carpets, couches and mattresses, damaged by sewage water from their basements to their front lawns. Residents will get help from the city authorities for disposing of their contaminated items and debris. ARC is going to provide unlimited pickup facility from Monday.

Elk Grove Village’s Fire Battalion Chief William Sellers stated that several roads were closed on Sunday, including Rev. Morrison Boulevard and Elk Grove Boulevard. Sellers also stated that the Salt Creek Bridge, which was closed on Saturday because of the standing water, has been reopened after the water receded.

After the weekend storms that hit Chicago, the Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has declared 12 counties as disaster areas. Quinn stated that several communities incurred damages because of the storms. He said that about 125,000 sandbags have been dispatched to Henderson County. The other disaster areas include Cook, Carroll, Lee, Jo Daviess, DuPage, Ogle, Mercer, Rock Island, Winnebago, Whiteside and Stephenson.

According to the officials in Cicero, a west Chicago suburb, the minimum damage to homes because of Saturday and Sunday storms is estimated to be $12 million.