CHICAGO (WLS) — Severe thunderstorms swept through the Chicago area overnight, bringing with them torrential downpours that resulted in significant flooding across multiple neighborhoods.
This latest round of heavy rain, which saw accumulations of 2 to 5 inches, has compounded the troubles for residents on the city’s Southwest Side, many of whom are still reeling from devastating flooding that occurred just three weeks prior.
In response to the ongoing challenges, FEMA was already in Gage Park surveying the aftermath of the flooding from July 25, questioning the financial support available for those affected and discussing preventative measures to avert future disasters.
Meteorologists from ABC7 Chicago reported that the storms that hit the region on Saturday evening persisted into the early hours of Sunday, wreaking havoc by flooding numerous roadways and causing power outages for thousands.
Approximately 215,000 ComEd customers lost power during the storm, but by Sunday night, crews had restored electricity to about 90% of those affected, with full restoration expected by Monday.
Several areas remained visibly impacted by the floods, including the viaduct near West 47th Street and South Archer Avenue, where cars became stranded.
By 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, several vehicles were stuck in the floodwaters, while other instances of cars stalling in water were reported near East 95th Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue.
The Illinois State Police confirmed that the Stevenson Expressway was temporarily shut down at Pulaski due to flooding but has since reopened.
In the aftermath of the storms, residents across Chicago’s Southwest Side spent the day salvaging belongings from their flooded basements.
Tameeca Dennie, a resident of Chicago Lawn, recounted the damage as her family worked to clean out their submerged belongings, saying, “We had our sectional furniture, Christmas decorations, things for our fur babies. Just everything is gone.”
Though the situation was grim, Leslie Dennie maintained a positive outlook, saying, “It could have been worse. So that’s how I’m looking at it.”
In nearby Gage Park, the destruction was similarly pervasive as residents assessed their losses after the waters receded.
“Insurance told her that it was weather-related damages, so that’s not covered by the insurance for some reason,” noted Carmen Aguilera, reflecting on the lack of support for individuals facing such crises.
The flooding did not spare religious institutions either; St. Clare of Montefalco had water being pumped out of its basement for the second time in three weeks, leaving parishioners concerned about future events.
Father Homero Sánchez expressed his worries for both the church and its congregation, stating, “I fear for us, but more for the people of God. These poor people were just recovering. I personally have the question of what’s the city doing about it.”
Alderman Ray Lopez of the 15th Ward opened his office to help residents report their damages, emphasizing the inadequacies of the existing sewer system in handling intense rainfall.
Lopez stated, “We need to do some more proactive preventative measures, whether it’s annual or quarterly cleaning of the sewers and catch basins, or start looking at putting in some of these backflow valves when we are opening up the streets so that sewer and runoff does not flow back into the homes. That’s 95% of what we’re seeing out in the neighborhoods right now.”
Chicago’s Department of Water Management announced their commitment to resolving the situation, indicating that crews are working continuously to address service requests and checking on the performance of catch basins and sewers in the affected areas.
Despite being largely dried out for the day, storm chances are set to return on Monday, with parts of the Chicago area under a Level 1 threat for severe weather.
Forecasted isolated storms could reach the region, particularly between 4 p.m. on Monday and midnight Tuesday.
As residents brace for more potential storms, they remain anxious about future flooding and the possibility of losing their homes and belongings once again.
In the meantime, efforts to provide relief and support for those impacted by the recent flooding continue, but many are left questioning how to protect themselves from such recurring events in the future.
image source from：abc7chicago
