Chicago Area Reacts to Flooding

The Chicago area experienced heavy rainfall and major flooding over nearly two weeks in July 2017. Rivers, land and infrastructure were inundated with water, triggering flood warnings across Chicagoland.

In mid-July, Chicago suburbs reacted to flooding from the Fox and Des Plaines Rivers, but when strong thunderstorms hit less than two weeks later, residents reinforced sandbag walls to prevent additional river flooding. In Algonquin, Ill., the Fox River was reported at 13.15 ft with a flood stage of 9.5 ft, and near Des Plaines, Ill., the Des Plaines River reached 19.83 ft, far above the 15-ft flood stage.