Winnetka Soaked, Residents Hit By Flooded Basements

WINNETKA (CBS) -- The Village of Winnetka was hit with about five inches of rain during a six-hour period, causing some widespread flash flooding.

As CBS 2's Sandra Torres reports, resident Seth Reatherford had four feet of water in his basement.

"It's not a sight a homeowner wants to see," he said.

The water slowly receded throughout the day, but the damage is done.

"The boiler is shot; water heater, laundry, dryer shot," Reatherford said. "It's easily going to be $25,000 worth of damage."

And he's not alone.

Several homes on Ash Street in Winnetka are also dealing with flooded basements and backyards after the storms.

Steve Saunders, the director of public works for the village, says crews worked all night and day to help clean up.

"We are trying to help, but sometimes nature throws more at us than we can handle," he said.

Reatherford wants a permanent solution.

"My level of frustration is pretty high. I would like the village to solve the problem.

"We have a rain problem, volume problem and math problem but we don't have the infrastructure to deal with it."

Officials have been working on finding a permanent fix for flooding issues since 2008 but have not been able to compromise on a solution.

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• Winnetka