Worst of the storm misses Arlington Heights

As Arlington Heights cleans up from today’s rain, officials say it has been severe, but not as bad as the July 2011 storm that hit the village.

At the height of today’s storm, Public Works Director Scott Shirley said, Arlington Heights received 0.7 inches of rain in about 18 minutes. The village is helping Prospect Heights this afternoon as that city deals with much more serious flooding from the Des Plaines River.

The 2011 storm caused massive flooding on streets and in homes and other buildings, and prompted several ongoing studies costing the village more than $300,000.

Shirley said there were about 10 street closures earlier in the day, but those roads were reopened this afternoon. Sandbags were delivered to two or three dozen homes, Shirley said.

He added that the department had received a few calls about backyard flooding, but no complaints about water entering people’s homes as with the 2011 storm.