The cleanup continues
Fox Valley residents aren't out of the woods just yet.
But with water levels dropping along the Fox River, local officials say the cleanup effort is well under way after last week's severe storms and record-setting rainfall.
"We got a pretty good jump on it over the weekend," West Dundee Village Manager Joe Cavallaro said. "All the big stuff and all the safety issues were resolved."
Still, county authorities say homes remain flooded in some low-lying areas -- and it may be another week before the river recedes entirely within its banks.
"It looks like it's going to go down very slowly over the next week," said Donald Bryant, director of the Kane County Office of Emergency Management. "Although the water has come down substantially, there are still some homes surrounded by the river."
On a more positive note, Bryant said, the rain in the forecast for tonight and Wednesday shouldn't have much of an effect on existing flooding.
"From what the weather service is saying, it's supposed to be a nice, easy rain," he said.
Even without another significant rain, however, local officials say there is still of work to be done.
A cleanup crew was busy Monday morning, for instance, pumping flood water and hauling ruined carpet out of Judson College's Volkman Hall.
The building's flooded first floor housed student government, and had some lounge and office space.
"I think we'll be out of there for a while," said Sandy Gum, the building's resident director. "I don't think they're going to re-carpet. Much easier cleanup."
In Elgin, city officials say they are working with Waste Management to coordinate a special pickup in flood-damaged areas.
"Right now we're just trying to put together a full-blown map," city spokeswoman Sue Olafson said. "We may get started as early as Wednesday in some areas."
In Carpentersville, officials said cleanup has been going well. But it will be a while still before drivers are allowed on parts of Williams Road and Riverview Drive.
"Things are going pretty well," Village Manager Craig Anderson said. "But there's still some standing water. We do have a couple roadways that need major work."