Story posted Friday, June 19, 2009
Rain Pounds Northwest Suburbs
All residents can do is stare as rain floods Elmhurst Road between Oakton and Algonquin in Des Plaines on Friday. (Tom Wessell/The Journal)
Wet yet?
Booming thunderstorms that kicked up overnight continued their deluge on the Northwest suburbs today (Friday) as flooded streets tied up traffic seemingly everywhere.
By about 3 p.m., the band of scattered and isolated storms had cleared the area and the sun re-appeared. But forecasts for more rain continue as does a severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 10 p.m.
Earlier today the National Weather Service issued a River Flood Warning for the Des Plaines River through Sunday night, or until further notice. The river is expected to crest above 7 feet, according to the warning. Today's storms so far produced 1-3 inches of rain.
Reports from readers and Journal reporters included:
• Numerous downed wires and roadways covered with water in Park Ridge.
• A Rosemont Public Works crew seen pumping water into Willow Creek near Rosemont School, away from homes.
• The corner of Graff and Scott next to Lange Park in Rosemont completely under water.
• The Northwest Hwy. S-Curve in Des Plaines closed off due to high standing water.
• A retention pond at Mt. Prospect Rd. and Howard in Des Plaines that had overflowed its banks.
• The west side of Des Plaines soaked to say the least. Elmhurst Road on the Des Plaines-Mt. Prospect border was shut down between Oakton and Dempster streets due to high standing water. Rain run-off collected in low-lying parking lots all up and down Elmhurst closing down businesses for the day.
• Other streets and intersections in Des Plaines' 8th ward near Elmhurst & Oakton were flooded out, including: Pennsylvania, Dover, Miami and Marshall among others.
• Streetlights were reported out at Central and Wolf roads and Golf and Rand roads in Des Plaines.
• A diesel spill was reported at Elmhurst & Algonquin as high standing water was going nowhere fast.
• The majority of the streets in Elk Grove Village’s Business Park were closed along with most of Elk Grove Boulevard.
• Salt Creek did overflow its banks though there was no reported flooding of homes in Elk Grove. A brief power outage struck the village for two and a half hours this morning in an area running from I-90 to Oakton Street and from Arlington Hts. Road to Lively Boulevard. Rotary Fest was canceled due to flooding and storms slated for tonight could place the Hometown Parade scheduled for Saturday in jeopardy.
• Even Busse Woods couldn't handle all the rain as water overflow from the forest preserve shut down southbound Arlington Hts. Road between I-90 and Higgins.
• Milwaukee Avenue near Golf Mill Mall in Niles had standing water. Village officials were debating whether to close the road at 1 p.m. Friday. Several other side streets were also closed.
• Though some basements experienced flooding and some low lying roads had standing water, all roads in Glenview were considered passable.
• One resident told the Journal that the United Methodist Board of Global Pensions building construction site in Glenview was completely under water from Friday's rain. A tractor trailer was reportedly stuck in the mud and the neighboring South Navy Ditch retention area was "brown" with silt and debris.
• Much of Big Bend Drive, located along the Des Plaines River in Des Plaines, usually first to flood during major rainfalls, was mostly spared as of Friday afternoon, though flooded basements were reported citywide.
• Only four intersections had to be closed due to rising water Friday in Palatine, according to Public Works Director Andy Radetski, including: Rose & Lilly; Oak St. and Benton; Benton and Wilmette; and Northwest Hwy. and Forest. Very few flooded basements were reported. Radetski said low-lying areas, specifically neighborhoods near Illinois Ave. and Plum Grove Rd. and Smith and Colfax in the downtown area, could see increased flooding if rains continue through the night.
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