Where were you before the flooding?

I attended the recent Carol Stream village board meeting at which residents affected by the recent flood vented their frustration. Many were upset at their perceived lack of response by police department and fire district as well as other village departments.

One of the lessons that the fire district teaches children in the schools and through its educational materials, and one that the village has tried to drive home to residents, no matter where they live, is that we have to have emergency plans. We cannot depend on "rescuers" for every situation.

Shortly before the rainstorm that brought all the flooding to our village began, I was sitting at the hospital waiting for the discharge of my husband. We saw the flash flood warnings on TV, and I was going over in my mind all the things I had to accomplish, hopefully before the storm hit: obtain his prescriptions, obtain enough food for the next couple of days so I did not have to drive in blinding rain, make sure that there was nothing of importance on the floor of our basement in case the sump pump stopped working, think about what we would do if my husband did become more ill once we returned home and how we would make the trip back to the hospital. I was making plans "just in case," and not waiting for the fire district or police department to advise me.

I understand the frustration with the county and the village in the failure to complete the study that was promised to outline plans to reduce flooding; but as someone who attends the majority of the village board meetings, I have to ask: Where have all of you been during the past year asking where the results were when the deadline passed? Never have I seen anyone from your area at a meeting ask a question. This is your right and your responsibility.

Suzanne G. Hlotke

Carol Stream