South suburban residents still cleaning up after weekend storms, flooding; many without power

FLOSSMOOR, Ill. (WLS) -- The sunshine is a welcome sight Monday after a holiday weekend super soaker.

Some suburbs got more than 8 inches of rain since Friday.

There was so much rain in Kane County parts of a road and bridge were washed out. Scott Road is closed in Kaneville.

The Olympia Fields Country Club golf course has significant flooding. It's been closed since Friday, and big trees were down on the Flossmoor Golf Course, too.

Officials from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District reported that the Thornton Composite Reservoir is holding billions of gallons of water.

"We have seen just an incredible amount of rain this year," said Ed Staudacher, director of maintenance and operations for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

The district shared images showing current conditions at its reservoirs and said the Thornton Reservoir is nearing capacity.

"We are seeing record levels in our Thornton Composite reservoir, which serves the southland. You see when you drive over I-80, (it) holds 17.8 billion gallons of water. Right now we are 92% full, and it's the highest it's ever been," Staudacher said.

Despite the billions of gallons collected by the reservoir system, some residents continued to deal with flooding and damage in their homes.

Karen Brown, a Harvey resident, said her basement flooded, despite having two sump pumps.

She's lived there for eight years.

When asked whether she had ever experienced flooding like this before, she said, "No, it's been bad before but never like this."

Harvey Ald. Colby Chapman said many residents are struggling with storm-related losses.

"We know many individuals have lost food; they've been without power, as well. And we're happy to see all the collaborating agencies, social service agencies come together and really support the residents," Chapman said.

There are entire streets in Flossmoor that are still without power four days later. Neighbors said it wasn't until their mayor made a call that trucks started pulling up.

Generators are out in full force

"Friday, Saturday, Sunday, today is Monday; so I can't even go to work today, right, because I gotta leave the generator running and go to work," said Steve Ojode, who lives in Flossmoor.

Ojode said he had to go out and buy a generator, after he could not wait for ComEd to show up.

"Imagine if I had some medical equipment, like older people, people who have younger kids, right?" Ojode said. "Four days is really unacceptable to not have electricity."

He and about 100 other homes have been without power since Friday afternoon when storms ripped through a Flossmoor neighborhood; some were left with water-filled basements.

"I was very concerned that that the power company didn't have more trucks here," Flossmoor resident Andrea Nelson said.

"About 60% of the village lost power on Friday afternoon as the first wave of storms moved in," Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson said.

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Neighbors said it wasn't until Flossmoor Mayor Nelson made a push to get resources that utility workers started coming. But even with all the damage, she said families found ways to support each other over the holiday.

"I also saw neighbors still getting together because they had freezers full of food. So why not put it on a grill?" Nelson said.

"I'm just begging one of them, please solve our problem, please. We need to go back to living like civilized human beings here," Ojode said.

Ojode said he's seen three different powerline companies out and about, including ComEd.

Those in need of support in Flossmoor can reach out to info@flossmoor.org.

In nearby Harvey, there are other resources: The American Red Cross Harvey Resource Center is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Parish Hall of Lord of Mercy Church, 15746 Union Ave.

It's open until 8 p.m. Monday, also.

At the Harvey resource center, Red Cross workers and volunteers assessed residents' needs and connected them with available assistance.

Beatrice Williams of Markham said she, her children and her granddaughter have been staying elsewhere since Friday. She said her daughter recorded video showing floodwaters inside their home and described the water as sewer water.

"When the water was coming in, it looked like a river. It was coming in from all my doors, underneath our floors. Everything was floating; it looked like we was on a lake," Williams said.

Williams also said her 1-year-old granddaughter developed a rash from the water.

Harvey resident Ryan Sinwelski described the cleanup process following the flooding.

"It's stinky, dirty. First you have to get all the water out, then started throwing things away, got fans going, trying to disinfect," Sinwelski said.

Call 1 (800) RED-CROSS or visit www.redcross.org/local/illinois/about-us/locations/greater-chicago for more information.