Flooding concerns across Illinois after heavy rain, storms overnight
Many areas across Illinois are dealing with flooding threats after several days of heavy rainfall.
Flooding is causing road closures through the suburbs as a flood warning remains in effect.
Lake County officials are warning of flooding impacts along the Des Plaines River and Fox River after nearly two inches of rainfall was reported across the area. The rainfall overnight added to the flooding caused by the rain this past week.
Flooding was reported along the Des Plaines River, including south of Townline Road and in the Gurnee area. The Village of Algonquin confirmed the Fox River is at 11.18 feet, which will cause moderate flooding in the floodplain.
Officials said the North Branch of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan waterways were also impacted with higher water levels, but have started to recede.
Lake County officials released flooding safety tips for residents. Sandbags have been passed out to residents to help stop the flooding.
Gurnee, Illinois officials said, due to rising water levels from the Des Plaines River, the following road closures are now in effect:
• Kilbourne Road is closed between Grand Ave and Route 41
• Old Grand Ave is closed between Grand Ave and Emerald Ave
The Village of Lincolnshire said officials are monitoring the status of the Des Plaines River, which was determined to be at a moderate level.
Water levels are so high that employees at Cranes Landing Golf Club in Lincolnshire were forced to close up business for the time being. Some employees said they haven't seen levels that high since 2017. They said it could be weeks before they reopen.
One homeowner, who said they moved in four years ago after the 2017 flood, said they knew what they were getting into, but they are nervous while they wait for the river to crest.
Right now in Lincolnshire, the Des Plaines River is at 14.8 feet. The major flood stage, when it could crest, is 15.5 feet, according to the National Weather Service, which could happen over the next few days.
In Des Plaines, Public Works crews filled sandbags for residents and business owners along or near the river.
Already, Rebecca Kumar with Lake County Emergency Management Agency, said they have provided 20,000 sandbags to cities on the Fox and Des Plaines rivers.
"We are getting close to cresting levels, and we are in alert state. We've actually alerted our internal operations center personnel, put volunteers on standby," she said.
Lincolnshire officials said the Public Works crews were deployed overnight to check facilities and critical infrastructure. So far, one service road, Londonderry Lane, is closed to traffic due to flooding. Crews removed a downed tree in the area.
