Chicago Weather: Threat of flooding across area

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Storms overnight brought lightning and heavy rains. The National Weather Service canceled a Flash Flood Watch for several counties on Thursday afternoon.

The Kankakee River crested, its waters flooding a nearby park, roads and homes.

"The basement started leaking. It just coming in and coming in, like a stream coming into my sump pump, which I hope is going to keep up with it," Margaret Coats, of Aroma Park, said.

Coats' neighbor John Witherspoon is also cleaning up.

"Then you got to have a mosquito net on. They're not bothering you yet, but that's what this is for," he said.

PHOTOS: Storms produce heavy rain, lightning

Witherspoon's 3-acre property, which is across the street from the Kankakee River, has flooded at least four times in the last 30 years. He has three pumps on his property, and said he'll install a fourth.

"You cannot stop the water. What you can do is control it and move it from your area away from your dwellings," Witherspoon said.

Authorities said at least 400 homes along the river flooded.

"I've never seen it this bad. Never," Jajuana Hawkins said.

Police are encouraging residents near the river to sandbag their homes.

The high waters are also impacting businesses, like Ryan's Pier Restaurant.

"When the river goes out, some people are usually back in business. It's been a couple of days. This is a bit different. It has gone down. It's gone up. It's going down. Hopefully it will keep going down," Kathleen Slavin said.

Brenda Surprenant wants to be back out on her boat.

"Every year when I get flooded, my husband says, 'I am moving. I am moving.' And I am like, 'No, we are not,'" Surprenant said.

"When you live on the river, you expect high water. But when it actually happens, you are just not clear how to deal with it," Elise Boudreau, Aroma Park resident, said.

LIGHTNING STRIKE, SLIPPERY ROADS

The rain began falling around 3 a.m. Thursday and ended around 6 a.m. with the most accumulation to the south of the city. Inverness police said lightning struck a home in the 1200-block of Barclay Circle just before 4 a.m. Thursday.

The owners were inside when the lightning struck, but police said they were not hurt. There is damage to the chimney, the deck and the side of the house. The lightning did not start a fire.

A semi truck jackknifed over a cement wall on the outbound Dan Ryan Expressway at 47th Street. Crews closed the ramp to clear the scene.

Illinois Department of Transportation crews blocked the Kimball exit from the inbound Kennedy Expressway for about three hours due to high-standing water. Streets in several suburbs also flooded.

ABC7 Meteorologist Phil Schwarz said light showers are expected in the afternoon.