Chain water levels should start dropping soon

Barring additional rain in the next couple of days, water on the Chain O' Lakes should crest within 24 hours and start dropping later this week, officials said.

Ed Lescher, head of Fox Lake's Emergency Services Disaster Agency, said water on most rivers and streams flowing into the Chain have crested and are holding stable or starting to fall.

About 75 homes are flooded or in danger of flooding in Fox Lake. Another 75 to 100 homes in Antioch are in the same predicament.

Roads in low-lying areas in Knollwood Park subdivision off Route 59, King's Island subdivision off Route 12 and roads connected to the Chain on the east side of Grand Avenue are closed due to flooding.

Lescher said water is about a foot above flood level and about 8 inches past the point where homes start to take on water and are damaged.

"We are keeping an eye on it and delivering sandbags when people call," he said. "That's really all we can do."

The National Weather Service has predicted a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms to hit the area later in the week.

Barring additional rain, this flood will not be as extensive as last August, Lescher said. At that time, water rose about 18 inches over flood levels and about 14 inches past the point where homes are damaged.

The Fox River in New Munster, Wis., crested at three feet above flood level Friday night, and started to fall early this morning. It's currently listed at 2 feet above flood level there.

Right now, the worst area seems to be homes along the Fox River in McHenry, Johnsburg and south from there. Water in that area is 2 feet above flood stage and about 1 foot past the point where homes are damaged.

The Fox Waterway Agency in Fox Lake has kept no-wake restrictions on the upper river between McHenry Stratton Lock and Dam and on the Chain. The lower river between McHenry and Algonquin is closed for safety reasons.

Check back at dailyherald.com throughout the day for updates.