September 14, 2019: Flooding Updates
As of 9AM on Saturday, September 14 at 9AM: Water has receded from road surfaces and all streets in Highland Park have been reopened
Road Closure Update (Saturday, September 14 - 8AM)
The following streets remain closed due to water on pavement:
Taylor Ave. at Perennial Ln.
All other streets are open and passable.
Friday, September 13:
Last night’s storm brought intense rainfall of .97 inches in 13 minutes. Public Works crews cleared storm sewers in advance in anticipation of the storm to help alleviate flooding. Crews continue to check inlets as water dissipates. The City is aware of all flooded streets. Please call Public Works at 847.432.0807 to report flooded basements so City staff can ensure City drains are clear to allow water to drain. Please only call Police to report emergencies. The City is aware of flooded streets. Street closure information will continue to be posted on the City’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
The following roads are closed (9/13 10 AM):
Trail Way from Rt. 22 to Parkside Dr.
Tanglewood Ct.
Red Oak Ln. at Lake Cook Rd.
Briargate Dr.
Taylor Ave.
Park Ave. West at Rt. 41
Lake Cook Rd. at Ridge Rd. is passable however there is high water on pavement.
There are several areas in the region in the floodplain that are susceptible to flooding. A portion of Highland Park falls into the floodplain (see the attached floodplain map) which results in flooding on streets and properties. The floodplain map can also be viewed on the City’s website under Interactive Maps (click Floodplain Layer).
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) presented the draft results from their Preliminary Flood Mitigation Study in May, 2019 for the Skokie River and Middle Fork River to representatives from the five participating communities. Evaluation of two potential reservoir sites indicated that they would not produce enough flood risk reduction to warrant further consideration. Addressing the flooding in Highland Park requires a regional effort involving collaboration with several neighboring municipalities and government agencies along the Skokie River and Chicago River. The City continues to address this important concern with State and Federal authorities.
The City continues to communicate information and alerts regarding flood mitigation via eNews, the website, and social media. The City also communicates alerts received from Lake County Emergency Management Agency and other agencies through the City's Public Safety Alerts eNews, the City website, and social media (Facebook and Twitter). Residents are encouraged to sign up for the City eNews and Public Safety Alerts eNews at www.cityhpil.com/signup.
Regular updates about the City’s flood mitigation work can be found on the City website at www.cityhpil.com/flooding. This link also includes recommendations and options that residents can pursue on their properties to minimize flooding risks either in a basement or yard. The risk of flooding cannot be completely prevented, especially for those living in the floodplain areas, but in certain circumstances, there are options that can be done to property to help mitigate the flooding and help alleviate some damage.