Officials anxiously watch swollen rivers, lakes
Lake County officials are hoping the rain stops falling before the already swollen rivers and lakes flood and start to damage homes.
Officials at the National Weather Service predicted 1 to 3 inches of rain could fall throughout the county by this morning. If that holds true, those who live and work along the Chain O' Lakes and Fox and Des Plaines rivers will likely see water in their yards and buildings.
Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik, the village's administrative team and Gurnee Elementary District 56 officials met Thursday to discuss flood preparedness. Gurnee Grade School, which is located along the Des Plaines River, is particularly prone to flooding.
The officials were not yet alarmed because a majority of the heavy rain Thursday traveled well south of Gurnee. But they say that it's possible the river could reach 2 feet above flood stage on Sunday should the rain continue.
About a half-inch of rainfall was recorded on the Gurnee Public Works gauge as of Thursday afternoon, said Patrick Muetz, assistant to the village administrator. Kovarik said the village should dodge a bullet provided 24-hour rainfall doesn't top 2 inches.
The Des Plaines River in Gurnee measured at 6.65 feet. Gurnee Grade School, which is in the river's shadow on Kilbourne Road just north of Grand Avenue, typically isn't affected until the water reaches 9.5 feet.
"We have quite a bit of room before we'd have to mobilize," Kovarik said.
Muetz said the village has flood supplies on hand.
Because the Fox River is already over its banks in New Munster, Wis., that water will begin to work its way down and likely will cause flooding in the Chain O' Lakes area.
The National Weather Service said the Fox River up north should crest at 3.5 over flood stage Sunday afternoon. That water would work its way down to the Chain Monday afternoon.
Ed Lescher, head of the Fox Lake Emergency Services Disaster Agency, said the village is waiting to see how much rain falls over the next 24 hours.
"We have sandbags ready and are watching the homes in low-lying areas, but it completely comes down to the amount of rain that hits the ground," he said.
Lee Shannon, head of the Antioch Emergency Services Disaster Agency, said the water that had regressed over the past week is back to where it was when there was a flooding danger.
"I am genuinely concerned right now because, if we get the rain they are calling for, we will be hurting big-time," he said. "If everything comes the way they are forecasting, we will be very busy over the next couple of weeks."
In the interim, the Fox Waterway and Illinois Department of Natural Resources have closed the lower river between the McHenry Stratton Lock and Dam and the Algonquin Dam. Dangerous currents and large debris make boating unsafe, officials said.
The river north of the dam in McHenry and the Chain O' Lakes remains designated no-wake, which means boats are not allowed to travel faster than 5 miles an hour.
John Palmeiri, lockmaster of the Stratton Lock and Dam in McHenry, said dam gates are open and water is being released south along the Fox River as fast as possible without flooding out those residents.
"Let's just hope the heart of this storm misses us," he said.