Due to heavy rain in Chicago, basements and roads were flooded: some highways were closed

In Chicago on July 2, there were record rains for several hours. Due to heavy rain, some roads were closed, many cars got stuck. Water flooded the basements of residential buildings, according to ABC7.

Photo: IStock

Parts of the Chicago waterfront have been closed.

The flooded roads continued to cause problems throughout the night. On the West Side, at 4600-block of West Roosevelt Road, cars were stuck after trying to pass. There was still up to a meter of water on the roadway.

water trap

At some point on July 2, at least seven vehicles and their passengers were trapped on a flooded road near I-290 at 5th and Cicero Avenues.

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Cater Fisher's SUV had to be towed after failing to make it through rising water.

“My car just started to float. My first reaction was to try to get out of the car. I opened the door and the water started pouring into my legs,” Fischer said.

Frustrated and helpless, this is how Jefferson Park's Elizabeth Bilenga feels after her basement was flooded with sewage. CBSNews.

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“You are in complete panic. You don't know what to do and there's nothing you can do," she said.

Bilenga said she felt powerless after seeing her basement flooded.

“The alarm went off and then I smelled smoke,” she said. “Of course, I was very stupid and jumped into the water.”

She says this is the second time her basement has been flooded. The first time was in May 2020.

“We had the same situation where water was coming out of the drain,” she said. “It seems to me that this time it’s even worse.”

Bilenga says neighbors' basements have also flooded. She said the next step for her would be to clean up the mess in the basement.

“I really don’t see any other option but to spend a ton of money on renovations,” Bilenga said.

The Chicago River burst its banks, forcing the city to close the riverfront. Authorities even changed the course of the river, diverting water into Lake Michigan to reduce flooding.

The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) said it has received 412 calls about water in basements as the cleanup process continues.

Until 18:30 p.m., Cook County had a Flash Flood Warning and Flood Advisory in effect.

Until 17:30 p.m., there was also a flood warning for DuPage and Lake counties.

DuPage and Will counties also had flash flood warnings in effect until 13:15 pm on July 2.

Total rainfall on July 2:

• O'Hara: 8,5 cm.
• Midway: 11,8 cm.
• Berwyn: 22,7 cm.
• Cicero: 21,8 cm.
• Garfield Park: 20,6 cm.
• Lincoln Park: 20 cm.
• Evanston: 18 cm.
• McKinley Park: 16,8 cm.
• Willing: 4,9 cm.
• Waukegan: 1,7 cm.
• Valparaiso - 0,70 cm.
• Aurora - 3,9 cm.

The mayor's office issued a statement reminding people to stay away from flooded roads and asking residents to be mindful of water use.

“To help drain water into the sewer system, please do not use additional water for showering, laundry or washing dishes during rainstorms. While this may be a temporary inconvenience, it is better for water to accumulate outside than in residents' basements,” the statement said.

The city is urging residents to avoid driving in flooded areas as cleanup work continues. Residents can call 311, visit the website 311.chicago.org or use the app CHI311to report water in basements, standing water on the streets, or flooded roads in the city.

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