Trepidation rising along with the Fox River
It looks like a weekend of waiting and watching for folks along the Fox River, from Aurora to McHenry.
While this week's heavy rains haven't yet produced the sort of disastrous flooding the Fox Valley saw last August, trepidation over a repeat performance was on the rise Friday -- much like the river itself.
"We won't take any chances," said Andrea Hickman, who spent about $70,000 repairing a house, garage and an apartment building she owns in St. Charles Township's Valley View area after last year's storms and was bracing for the worst -- again.
Hickman said she was arranging to surround her property with sandbags as the water crept closer. "Hopefully, the river doesn't crest soon," she said.
According to AccuWeather, today and Sunday could start off with snow -- yes, snow -- followed by afternoon and evening showers. Sunshine returns Monday.
As of Friday morning, the cofferdam at the Wilson Street bridge under construction in Batavia had not been notched or removed because river levels were not high enough to warrant it, said Terry Heffron, project liaison. The structure diverts water away from an area frequented by bridge workers.
Elsewhere downtown, the Venice Tavern had three pumps running to keep water out of its lower level. Co-owner Susan Wicklund said the tavern, on the northeast corner of the bridge at 1 E. Wilson St., had not flooded in the 19 years she's owned it.
"We asked them (city officials) 10 days ago to take the dam down," she said.
In McHenry County's Nunda Township, the highway department has been helping riverfront homeowners sandbag since last week. So far, "everybody seems to be holding their own," said Donna Kopsell of the department.
"The river's up quite a bit from yesterday but it's been OK so far," she said. "Last August was a lot worse."
That difficult season -- eventually dubbed a disaster by the governor -- prompted extra caution this year in Algonquin Township too.
Road Commissioner Bob Miller said more than 3,000 sandbags had already been distributed and there were still plenty available at the township building on Route 14 in Crystal Lake. Township crews also were out Friday helping where needed, he said.
Kane County Emergency Management, Algonquin and numerous other government agencies also were making sandbags available.
"Let's hope it quits raining," Miller said.
In West Dundee Fire Chief Frank Burhmann's neck of the woods, the situation appeared much better than earlier this year when winter ice jams overflowed the river.
"I think we got a gift that we didn't get as much torrential rain as was forecast," he said.
Elburn and Sugar Grove officials reported no problems in their communities.
• Daily Herald staff writers Susan Sarkauskas, Lee Filas and Nancy Gier contributed to this story.
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Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Looking north, the Fox River continues to rise Friday along Cornish Park in Algonquin.
It looks like a weekend of waiting and watching for folks along the Fox River, from Aurora to McHenry.
While this week's heavy rains haven't yet produced the sort of disastrous flooding the Fox Valley saw last August, trepidation over a repeat performance was on the rise Friday -- much like the river itself.
Still, "Everybody seems to be holding their own," said Donna Kopsell of the Nunda Township Highway Department, which has been helping riverfront homeowners sandbag since last week.
"The river's up quite a bit from yesterday but it's been OK so far," she said. "Last August was a lot worse."
According to AccuWeather, today and Sunday could start off with snow -- yes, snow -- followed by afternoon and evening showers. Sunshine returns Monday.
Last August's torrential rains -- eventually dubbed a disastrous by the governor -- prompted extra caution this year in Algonquin Township too. Road commissioner Bob Miller said more than 3,000 sandbags had already been distributed and there were still plenty available at the township building on Route 14 in Crystal Lake.
Township crews also were out Friday helping where needed, he said.
Kane County Emergency Management, Algonquin and numerous other government agencies also were making sandbags available.
"Let's hope it quits raining," Miller said.
In West Dundee Fire Chief Frank Burhmann's neck of the woods, the situation appeared much better than earlier this year when winter ice jams overflowed the river.
"I think we got a gift that we didn't get as much torrential rain as was forecast," he said.
Andrea Hickman, who spent about $70,000 repairing a house, garage and an apartment building she owns in St. Charles Township's Valley View area after last year's storms was bracing for the worst -- again.
Hickman said she was arranging to surround her property with sandbags as the water crept closer. "Hopefully, the river doesn't crest soon," she said.
• Daily Herald staff writers Susan Sarkauskas and Lee Filas contributed to this story.