April Flood Victims Could Get Federal Grants, Loans

Gov. Pat Quinn is pushing for 11 Illinois counties to be named major disaster areas.

  Governor Pat Quinn today asked President Barack Obama to declare 11 Illinois counties major disaster areas following the storms and heavy rainfall that moved through the state in mid-April. If the governor’s request is approved, residents in those counties will be eligible to apply for grants and low-interest federal loans to help recover from the historic flooding. Counties included in the request are Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry and Will. “We must do everything possible to help families impacted by this historic flooding as they rebuild their lives,” Governor Quinn said. “Today we are making a strong case to President Obama to help expedite the review and approval process so the people of …

• Photos (1)

Tax Relief for Businesses and Families Impacted by Flooding

Tax Filing and Payment Deadlines Pushed to Oct. 31, 2013.

  Governor Pat Quinn today announced that Illinois businesses and individuals who file monthly, quarterly or annual returns and have been impacted by the flooding will have until Oct. 31 to file tax returns that were due on or after April 19. The extended deadline will provide much-needed relief for individuals and local businesses trying to file their returns or payments on time while recovering from the flood. “Families and businesses across Illinois need time to focus on rebuilding their businesses, homes and lives,” Governor Quinn said. “Once families have recovered, they can pull together the necessary paperwork to file and pay their taxes.” Taxpayers who opt to mail their deferred returns and payments should write Flood – April 2013 …

• Photos (1)

MAP: Flooded Roads Throughout Chicago Area

From interstates to local roads, our map provides updates on closures and high-standing water in your area.

From the Wisconsin border to the south side of Chicago and into the western suburbs, local roads, interstates and highways were closed Thursday because of flooding.  Click through the pins above to see which roads in your area — or on your route to and from work today — have been closed due to flooding or have high-standing water. Police are encouraging drivers to avoid roadways with standing water.  If you come upon an area with high-standing water or that is closed, add that information to our map by visiting this link. Otherwise, let us know about the closure by commenting below.  Drivers are asked to beware of high-standing water on roadways. The water on a roadway can be deeper than it appears and can cause a vehicle to stall or be …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

Residents Get Info Session On Flooding Issues

Village put on a workshop to let residents ask questions, learn which areas of village are most flood-prone and find out how village plans to help.

Niles Will Tackle Flooding Problem, But It Will Cost Residents

Consultant outlines the plan; village considers ways residents and businesses will pay for it.

Some Niles residents have endured flooding for years, and they want relief. A significant milestone on the path to that relief happened Tuesday, when a consultant made a presentation about its work to the village board. Jeff Wickenkamp, vice president of consulting firm Hey and Associates, gave a detailed report of Niles' flooding situation, complete with color illustrations of Niles' watersheds and sewer system. Village staff, along with Hey, have been mapping the system, and measuring depths, in the wake of the September 2008 100-year-storm. They've also been meeting with the village's Stormwater Commission to identify problems and think about solutions. Earlier: Niles tackles flooding To fix the problems, Hey is recommending capital …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Flooding Worries? Niles' Consultant Will Present Flood Prevention Report

After 16 months of mapping the sewer system, a consulting firm has determined where its limitations lie, and a smattering of solutions at various cost levels.

Niles' quest to find out why some homes and neighborhoods flood repeatedly began in 2008, after a so-called 100-year-storm left many homes saturated. Since then, much more flooding has occurred, including this spring and summer. Tonight marks a milestone in that flood prevention quest. A consulting firm, Hey and Associates, will present to the village board what it's learned from about 16 months of studying Niles' sewer system. It will also look at potential solutions. "We did a system diagnosis. We looked at the causes of flooding, and where the limitations of the system are," said Jeff Wickenkamp, vice president of Hey and Associates. Earlier: Niles and Maine Township look at flooding issues Bad storm leads to Stormwater Commission The …

• Photos (1)

Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise

Officials are addressing flood-prone areas in Niles and Maine Township.

After a spring and summer of heavy rains, village officials in Niles and Maine Township are thinking about floods. The village of Niles has been working on the issue, and a consultant will make a presentation at Tuesday's village board meeting. It's a pertinent issue for many residents. On July 23, a quick and heavy deluge caused widepread flooding, and 777 Niles residents filed forms asking for help repairing flood damage to their homes. But the issue goes back, in recent memory, to 2008, when a "hundred-year" deluge dropped 6.6 inches of rain in 24 hours, causing the Des Plaines River to swell beyond its banks. Earlier: Flooding problems in Niles Water cascaded down streets and filled up basements.  "There was so much water that people's…

• Photos (7)

No 'Disaster' Ruling For July 23 Flooding ; Homeowners Won't Get Aid

If your home flooded, you won't get any government help with the repair bills.

Though hundreds of homes throughout the northern suburbs flooded during a hard-hitting storm in the wee hours of July 23, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency has ruled the damage was not sufficient to seek federal disaster funds, according to TribLocal.  When state or federal emergency management agencies declare a disaster, that triggers funding to help affected residents rebuild, since insurance settlements may not fully cover the damage. Without the disaster declaration, neither the state nor federal government provides any financial help, the newspaper said. The Cook County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department collected statistics in this area on flooding and submitted them to the state, which made the call not to…

•  5 Comments
• Photos (2)

Tam Golf Course Gradually Dries Out

Of course there's the occasional dead fish left over from flooding.

After the Niles Park District's Tam O'Shanter Golf Course experienced flooding Thursday, with the parking lot mostly under water, workers were trying to clean it up and dry it out Saturday. Workers were using buckets to bail water out of sand bunkers, as well as picking up debris and the occasional dead fish, which apparently didn't make it back in when the high river water receded.  Tam expects to open Sunday, but call first at (847) 965-2344. 

•  1 Comment
• Photos (6)