DuPage Update Regarding Flood Event

DuPage Update Regarding Flood Event We are currently experiencing one of the larger storm events the area has seen in some time. The amount of rainfall produced by these storms has caused many inconveniences throughout DuPage County, including severe weather and flooding. Earlier today, I signed an emergency declaration to expedite the County’s accessibility to cleanup and emergency resources, including generators, pumps and sandbags. While the severe weather seems to have ceased for the time being, we are not out of the woods. We have yet to see peaks in the rivers and streams throughout the County, so the flood control facilities will stay in operation well into Friday. Accordingly, many roads remain impassible throughout the County. Although the DuPage County government campus was closed today, staff is continuing operations to ensure the safety of our residents. Stormwater Management has been closely monitoring and operating the flood control facilities and providing regular forecast updates and models. Their real time updates stream and facility updates can be found atec.dupageco.org/dec/stormwater/watershed/index.html. Likewise, the DuPage County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has been running their Emergency Operation Center since Wednesday afternoon to inform and assist residents. In addition to providing information on road closures and safety tips, OEM partnered with the American Red Cross to maintain an emergency shelter at Benedictine University in Lisle for residents experiencing flooding or evacuations.  The County also provided more than 100,000 sandbags to municipalities for residents to protect their properties from flood water. We are also working with federal and state officials to access emergency assistance and resources both during and after this storm event. Residents are reminded to document flood damages with photos and save any receipts for damage-related materials. Most importantly, please stay safe this evening by following these recommendations: •          Avoid floodwaters. Do not let children play in the water. •          Be aware of areas where water has receded as roadways may have weakened. •          Avoid downed power lines and water where power lines may have fallen. •          Discard food that may have been contaminated. •          Check on sewage systems. If damaged, these can be a serious hazard. For more information about road closures, the emergency shelter, etc., please visitwww.ProtectDuPage.org. Here are some additional resources that may be helpful: DuPage County News & Updates National Weather Service for DuPage County Metra Service Updates Federal Aviation Administration Flight Delays DuPage County’s government campus will re-open tomorrow. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact the County at (630) 407-6500 with any questions or concerns. Sincerely, Dan Cronin DuPage County Chairman