As floodwaters in retreat, cleanup in high gear
Despite more storms moving through the region Sunday, floodwaters along the Des Plaines River were receding and problems caused by standing water across the Northwest suburbs were on the decline.
But for many residents in Des Plaines, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Elk Grove Village and elsewhere, another massive storm cleanup effort is under way after Saturday's record-breaking downpour.
In Mount Prospect, basements were flooded and retention ponds were full, said Fire Battalion Chief Randy Uidl said.
“Instead of just coming off the river, it was everywhere,” he said.
At Robert Zapfel's Emerson Street home, it looked like his entire basement had been moved to the front lawn. The collection included a couch, a mattress and a lot of drywall.
It was the result of “two feet of sewage water in the basement. Everything that goes down a toilet filled up the basement,” Zapfel said.
To dissuade potential scavengers, he spray painted the word “sewage” on one of the discarded items.
“Because I see people all morning picking through it,” he said. “Everything was covered in (sewage) and waterlogged.”
Neighbor Les Ashton didn't have as many items damaged, but his losses were still substantial.
“Once the drains started draining, we finally got the water to go out,” Ashton said, but the carpet couldn't be saved. “Our sump pump was running, but it was hard to keep up with everything.”
An insurance adjuster is scheduled to visit Monday. Until then, he won't know how expensive the flood was for him.
“We were lucky in the fact that my wife and my son hadn't gotten to bed yet. They were up early enough that we caught it and saved our couch and saved a few other things like that,” he said. “But a couple of computers are gone. All my carpet is gone, obviously. I have got three bookcases that I will get out there today. And my walls, I will probably have to take all the baseboards (out).”
Mount Prospect residents will get help with disposing of their basement detritus. Beginning Monday, ARC Disposal will have unlimited pickup for flood-related debris.
In Des Plaines, Mayor Marty Moylan declared a local state of emergency Saturday.
Des Plaines Fire Capt. Scott Peirson said Sunday most roads in the city were open, although the city kept Golf Road between Oakton Community College and East River Road shut down for much of the day and some stranded vehicles remain for drivers to contend with.
Peirson advised anyone to avoid walking through standing water, not only because of the danger of contamination, but also because of the risk of falling into open manholes or being dragged into a current and drowned.
Firefighters walk through floodwater with sticks in front of them “to make sure there are no open sewers or manholes we could fall into. It will grab you like an undertow,” he said.
The National Weather Service reported that 6.8 inches of rain fell in Des Plaines within a three-hour period.
As of late Sunday, the Des Plaines River at Des Plaines was at 5.2 feet, down from a 7.58-foot crest at 4 p.m. Saturday. Flood stage is 5 feet.
The city has placed sand and sandbags at three locations: Big Bend Drive & Hawthorne Lane; Christ Church at Cora Street and Henry Avenue; and River Road and Howard Avenue.
The city advised residents to place flood damaged items and related debris curbside for pickup at the regularly scheduled collection day. Residents and businesses with flat roofs were reminded to make sure that their roof drains were not blocked, as blocked roof drains may result in roof collapse.
Elk Grove had road closures Sunday along Rev. Morrison Boulevard, from Cypress Lane to Elk Grove Boulevard, and also along Elk Grove Boulevard from Rev. Morrison Boulevard to Ridge Avenue, said Elk Grove Fire Battalion Chief William Sellers.
Standing water that forced authorities to close the Salt Creek Bridge on Devon Avenue on Saturday had receded, allowing the bridge to reopen, Sellers added.
Flooded streets, parking lots and basements, submerged vehicles, delays in air travel and lightning-sparked fires were seen throughout the North, Northwest and West suburbs on Saturday.
By late Saturday morning, the rainfall total at O'Hare International Airport for July 23 was a historic 6.86 inches, which broke the previous single-day record of 6.64 inches, set Sept. 13, 2008, according to the National Weather Service.
But that didn't include all the water the storm dumped on the area. Rainfall measured 8.2 inches at O'Hare for the storm starting Friday night. Elsewhere in the suburbs, Arlington Heights got 7.25 inches of rain in 24 hours; Elk Grove Village was hit with 7.17 inches; Inverness reported 6.5 inches; and 6.06 inches fell at Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling.
While the Des Plaines River spilled over its banks, the Fox River was reported to be manageable despite the heavy downpours.
Forecasters say the weekend's torrential storms and the possibility for more rain before a cold front moves through have the potential to make this July the Chicago area's wettest.
Ÿ Daily Herald staff writers Marie Wilson, Elena Ferrarin, Deborah Pankey and Josh Stockinger contributed to this report.