The Eagle Street Bridge is now closed. It is anticipated that DuPage County will be opening the Fawell Dam completely, gates one and three are currently about 75 percent open, which will result in additional water coming downstream into downtown Naperville. When this occurs to ensure the safety of the public, the Washington Street, Main Street and Hillside Road bridges over the DuPage River will be closed. It is also likely that water may overflow onto Chicago Avenue and Jackson Avenue and there is a possibility that businesses may experience some flooding. Be prepared.
With more than six inches of rain reported in the Naperville area since Wednesday, and another inch predicted before this rain event ends, the City continues to monitor flooding throughout Naperville. Throughout the day, if people encounter standing water on streets at any location, they should not drive through the area. For their safety, members of the public should stay away from retention ponds and the DuPage River.
A map showing flooded roadways and those with standing water is now available to view on the City’s website at www.naperville.il.us. A Flood Operations webpage has been established at www.naperville.il.us/floodops.aspx.
A coordinated response by City officials to the flooding situation is underway with the safety and security of the public as the highest priority. Sixteen Department of Public Works trucks are on the roadways evaluating the status of streets and ponds. Barricades will be placed at roadways where flooding is anticipated to occur later in the day. Public safety personnel are currently responding to multiple reports of stalled vehicles and encourage everyone to stay off the roadways if possible.
Just after 3PM, the Fire Department reported that they rescued canoers from one of the rivers in Naperville. Please, for your own safety, stay out of all newly created pools of water as well as any rivers and creeks. The waters are rushing rapidly and do not create the best conditions for recreational use at this time. Be safe. Respect water.
Sandbags Available
The City has made sand and sand bags available to residents in need. Residents can now go to Riverview Court, off of Hillside Road, to fill and take sand bags. If additional sandbag sites are warranted, these will be communicated as they become available.
Residents with flooded basements are reminded to be cautious about electrical equipment and cords that may be located in those areas to reduce the risk of electrocution.
Sand and sand bags are available at Riverview Court, Centennial Beach and the 95th Street Library. Residents should bring shovels to fill their own bags. At this time, volunteers are not needed to assist with filling bags.
City Updates
For those residents who have experienced flooding in their homes, Allied Waste will collect all carpeting placed at the curb through the end of next week, provided the carpeting is bundled in segments no more than four feet in length, two feet wide and weighing no more than 60 pounds. Collection of the carpet will occur on a resident’s regularly scheduled garbage day. As a reminder, the City has unlimited garbage collection. Residents are asked to continue to use containers up to 32 gallons in capacity and 60 pounds in weight or one of the City-issued garbage carts. Furniture and appliances are included in the normal collection.
Collection of construction materials such as drywall and lumber will continue to be limited to two 32-gallon containers. Any electronics may be disposed of at the City’s Recycling Drop-Off Center, located at 180 Fort Hill Drive, from 8AM to 4PM on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
An additional inch of rain is expected before the current weather system subsides. The latest weather information can be found at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/.
Up-to-date information will also be provided on the City’s government access television channel WCNC (Ch. 6 – WOW, Ch. 10 – Comcast, Ch. 99 – AT&T) and the City’s website www.naperville.il.us.
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