Fox River residents clean up as river keeps rising

West Dundee homeowner talking about what it was like when the microburst hit his home (MP3 Audio)

The Fox River continued to rise Friday as area residents were still reeling from the rash of severe storms that swamped streets, downed trees and forced dozens from their homes on Thursday.

With the river already flooding homes from Algonquin down to St. Charles, officials said they were ready to help if rising waters -- or more rain -- threaten additional homes.

"The worst I've seen in 20 years," West Dundee village manager Joe Cavallaro said of the storms. "Right through the heart of town. Our efforts today are more proactive: Protect public infrastructure and private property."

Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Friday declared Kane, Cook, Lake and McHenry counties state disaster areas in the wake of the week's major storms. The areas now qualify for state assistance such as equipment and work crews to help with cleanup.

Even without more rain, floodwaters from Wisconsin are expected to raise water levels along the Fox another half a foot, National Weather Service hydrologist Bill Morris said Thursday.

That means more homes could be threatened by record-setting rains that have already swamped houses in Algonquin, Elgin, South Elgin, Carpentersville and the Dundees.

"We're hoping heavy rain will miss the basin in the next 24 hours," Morris said.

These latest severe storms brought more than just rain, however.

In addition to the flooding, city officials and emergency personnel on Friday had to clear away the mess left by fallen trees and broken limbs.

"It's going to be a hell of a cleanup," Elgin Mayor Ed Schock said. "What we need is a week without rain."

As do other towns up and down the Fox Valley.

Algonquin: Even before Thursday's storms, floodwaters were already threatening homes in the Algonquin Shores subdivision on the east side of Fox.

But with the river sitting 3 inches above flood level, and projected to rise nearly a foot above its banks, the National Weather Service warns more residents may be affected early today.

"We are just watching the water level of the river," assistant village manager Jenna Kollings said.

Algonquin police said they have yet to force evacuations, but they are notifying residents.

"Police are working 12-hour shifts to get work done," Kollings said. "Our public works department is on 24-hour operations. We will continue to see impact of storms in Wisconsin."

Carpentersville: Village Manager Craig Anderson called it the worst storm he's ever seen.

The village didn't get the sustained winds and damage seen by other towns, Anderson said.

But the storm did flood homes and streets.

And Williams Road, which runs north along the Fox River, could be impassable for weeks, Anderson said.

"I haven't seen anything like this anywhere before," he said. "I've certainly seen the flooding. But not the way the storm came through. I don't know how to describe it."

East and West Dundee: Carpentersville residents Heather and John Patton said it looked like wreckage -- something you would see in the aftermath of a tornado.

Roughly a dozen oak and pine trees lay scattered in the Dundee Township West Cemetery, after high winds snapped their limbs, sheared their tops and toppled the old trees that had stood for as many as 140 years.

"It was impressive to see an oak tree knocked over from its root," John Patton said. "These are old trees, and it looked like the wind pulled some up and dropped them."

The scenes were the same everywhere, with residents hauling fallen limbs into log chippers or attacking them with chain saws.

Along the Fox River in East Dundee, water was still 3½ feet above flood stage Friday morning, said Don Bryant, director of the Kane County Office of Emergency Management.

That's an increase of about a foot and a half in 24 hours.

All that rain spelled trouble for Henry and Clennie Knoplin.

At their Highland Avenue home in West Dundee, the storm and heavy rains softened the house's foundation so much that the entire northern wall of their basement collapsed.

"I heard something fall, and there's the wall sitting in the basement," Clennie Knoplin said.

Elgin: With Thursday's storms, Elgin has now received a record-breaking 15.62 inches of rain in August, National Weather Service meteorologist Rich Brumer said.

The previous record of 11.36 inches was set in 1987, Brumer said, referencing data dating back to 1898.

All that rain meant emergency personnel were still helping some Elgin residents out of flooded homes on Friday afternoon -- roughly a day after the storms first hit.

City officials said about 10 families decided to leave their homes because of the floodwaters.

Mayor Ed Schock's dad, who lives in the Eagle Heights subdivision, was one of those who sought higher ground.

"It was my suggestion," said Schock, who couldn't remember ever seeing this much sustained rain. "We've had some downpours. Until the skies opened up yesterday, everyone felt we were making progress."

All that rain forced the closure of several streets and parks around Elgin. Barricades were also set up, and residents asked to use detour routes.

The rain also complicated move-in at Judson College, which was partially under water Friday because of flooding in Tyler Creek.

College officials said they had to evacuate Volkmann Hall, temporarily relocating students to other dormitories. They also closed off the Route 31 entrance to campus, funneling all returning students through the remaining entrance.

Students due to arrive Sunday were asked to delay their return to campus by a day.

"We haven't seen a flood like this in about 10 years," Judson spokeswoman Tonya Lucchetti-Hudson said.

Huntley: Much of the village had dried out by Friday, officials said.

But on Thursday, a lightning strike sparked a fire on Charminster Court that was visible from two blocks away, Huntley Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Keith Mallegni said.

"It's not livable right now," Mallegni said. "It was a busy night for us. We had like nine calls going at one time.

Lake in the Hills: Flooding was isolated to low-lying areas in floodplains and floodways, said David Gregoria, the village's deputy director of public works.

"We have a few houses with flooded basements and standing water in yards," Gregoria said. "Our lakes are full, detention ponds are full and are doing their job. If we have more rain we could have problems. But for now, we are holding our own."

South Elgin: The village was hard hit on Thursday.

But by Friday morning, parks and recreation director Jim Reuter said the situation had stabilized.

"We're watching the forecast very closely," Reuter said. "We keep watching the maps. We're prepared to keep fighting it if we have to."

An estimated 52 homes were affected by rain and floodwater in South Elgin. Four families were assisted by the American Red Cross, he said, and dozens more left their homes, Reuter said.

"It just depends on where their house was, and how bad it was hit," he said. "Some of the old-timers in town here have said this is the worst they've ever seen, worst they've ever experienced."