Officials to watch river for flooding

In Des Plaines, the city's sandbagging machines are on standby for another rainy day.

The Des Plaines River is expected to hit 6.5 feet today in the suburb, slightly above flood level -- but below the 10-foot stage when widespread flooding is threatened.

As of Monday afternoon, the river in Des Plaines was predicted to crest at 7.1 feet Wednesday.

After it crests, the waters are predicted to begin receding, falling below flood level by the weekend.

But this isn't cause for concern in the northwest suburb, which bore the brunt of storm and flooding damage last August.

"It doesn't affect much," said Jon Duddles, assistant director of engineering.

Water is expected to begin inching into the backyards of residents along the often-flooded Big Bend Drive, according to the National Weather Service.

By Wednesday, if weather predictions hold, water is expected to creep onto the pavement of the 1700 block of Busse Highway, at River Road and Gregory, Central Road and Big Bend Drive.

Forest preserve property along the river also will flood.

Farther north, there's a greater potential for more serious flooding problems.

Rita Lee, hydraulic engineer for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said the Fox and Des Plaines rivers and the Chain O' Lakes will overflow their banks and cause flooding throughout the area if another inch of rain falls as predicted.

Flooding on Monday threatened yards and homes in Fox Lake, Antioch and subdivisions along the Fox River. If less than an inch of rain falls, however, the flooding should fall short of the disaster last August when more than 400 homes had significant water damage.

"We are preparing for sandbagging, and hoping we don't get as much rain as is predicted," said Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik. "Everything will be in place in case the rain does fall" Monday night.

In response to the high water, officials at the Fox Waterway Agency declared the Fox River and Chain O' Lakes a no-wake zone Monday morning. More information is available at www.weather.gov/chicago.