Chicago weather: Rain adds to flooding woes in Algonquin
ALGONQUIN, Ill. (WLS) -- An already-swollen Fox River in Algonquin crested Saturday morning at a record-breaking 13.05 feet after severe storms moved through the Chicago area Friday night and Saturday morning.
The river has already been above flood stage for almost two weeks following heavy rains. The most recent storm brought an additional two to three inches of rain. Saturday evening, the river was at 12.90 feet and receding but flood levels are expected to remain for about another week.
The river already broke a record this week, cresting at 12.82 feet on Thursday.
Algonquin's annual Founder's Day Festival, which draws thousands of people to a park near the river, was cancelled Saturday due to flooding. This is the first time the festival has been canceled in 57 years.
Homes flooded again Saturday and Algonquin public works officials pumped out the manholes, dumping that water into the Fox River.
More sandbags arrived Saturday. Hundreds of volunteers filled more than 40,000 sandbags over the last week and a half to keep the waters at bay.
"It starts getting old. At first, people were coming down and there was the camaraderie and everybody was sandbagging, it looked like everybody was going to be safe and now as it goes on, everybody is worn out. People aren't getting sleep," said Algonquin resident Rebecca Glitner. "After this next storm front comes through, we don't even know what to imagine because we haven't been this high down here before."
The village said there is not an immediate need to leave the area, but residents should monitor conditions and the decision to relocate should be be evaluated on individual circumstances. Anyone who wishes to relocate can contact the Algonquin Police Department non-emergency number at 847-658-4531.
Cornish Park, Riverfront Park and Towne Park are closed to the public and several local streets Near the Fox River are closed, with only residents and emergency vehicles allowed in the area.
In St. Charles, the Illinois Street Bridge and Indiana Street Pedestrian Bridge are closed due to the rising Fox River.
The storms dropped several inches of rain in some parts of the area, with Plano receiving 5.49 inches of rain and Elgin receiving 2.4 inches of rain and Joliet 2.33 inches of rain.
STORM DAMAGE
The storms Friday brought heavy winds, bringing down trees and ripping roofs from some buildings throughout the Chicago area.
In Prairie Grove, a lightning strike is likely to blame for a barn fire. Several horses were inside but were able to escape unharmed.
In unincorporated Will County, the Naperville Fire Department responded to a house fire that was started by a lightning strike. Firefighters responded at about 9:53 p.m. after a fire was reported in the 29W200-block of Anderman Drive. All of the residents in the building were able to escape and the fire was extinguished within 15 minutes of the initial 911 call. The home was deemed uninhabitable, the Naperville Fire Department said.
In Schaumburg, village officials warned residents to stay away from the storm damage and will provide a special brush pickup for residents. More information on the bush pickup will be posted on the village's website.
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