November 21, 2024

By Evelyn Holmes

FEMA has already been deployed after flooding earlier this summer

CHICAGO, IL (WLS), — Calumet City leaders are asking for more help after Sunday’s flash floods.

In a very short time, several inches of rain have fallen.

The rains flooded roads and basements.

Concerns are being raised about certain building’s structural integrity.

Calumet Mayor Thaddeus J. Jones declared a state-of-emergency and called an emergency Council Meeting on Wednesday.

In a heated meeting, the aldermen rejected $3 million of emergency funds.

The cleanup was funded with $1,000,000.

Engineers in the city have declared Sunday’s storm as a 500 year event, after the town took over 9.5 in. of rain in just 2.5 hours.

Jones stated, “We are going to the residents’ homes and we will restore their house as well as remove any sewer back-up that was experienced by them.”

Jones stated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was already present in the South suburbs to help homeowners who were still suffering from the flooding of June and July.

Jones stated that “they’ve been giving assistance to residents since Thursday, but we will have to request additional help from the Governor to take care of this.”

The affected residents are asked to complete a form for residential flooding.

Terry Douglas was just one of many long-term residents who still cleaned up stormwater on Wednesday.

We try to dry out the washer and dryer and fix that. He said, “We just turned on the hot water.”

Clyde Avenue was one of the neighborhoods that were hard-hit by floods caused by rains on Sunday.

Burnham, Dolton and their neighbors also experienced flooding.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation district Commissioner Yumeka brown said: “We are here to work with local municipalities to solve these difficult problems, just as we always have done.”

South suburban leaders also ask for assistance from both the county government and federal government.

Calumet officials also hope to raise the $100 million required to replace or update their old pipes and sewers.

Antionette Mac, who has lost furniture, family memorabilia, and other belongings after the basement of her house flooded, says there is little relief.

At this point I am done. “I’m done with it.” Mack replied, “I want to get a condominium or something.”

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago said in a Wednesday statement:

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago urges collaboration and investment in stormwater infrastructure and management.

Few local sewers are able to transport this rain flow into the MWRD Tunnel and Reservoir Plan infrastructure and intercepting sewers. Thornton Composite Reservoir of the MWRD, part of TARP, and serving Chicago south of 87th street and 13 South Suburban Communities, including Calumet, had only 15 percent of its capacity remaining after weekend’s rainstorm. The heavy rainfall did not allow the majority of water to reach the reservoir.

Kari Steele, MWRD president said: “It’s imperative we continue to work together in order to improve the stormwater system of Cook County’s local communities.” The MWRD is working around the clock in order to control excess water from our 882-square mile service area. My office encourages local officials to contact me to learn about stormwater improvements with green infrastructure. Together, we can achieve more.

The TARP continues to operate and maintain its capacity. The Thornton Reservoir, which was operational since 2015, has collected more than 53 billion gallons combined of sewage. The Thornton Reservoir is a reservoir that collects water which would normally be discharged into waterways, or flood basements.

The MWRD Stormwater Management Program has partnered with or is partnering up with several South Suburban Communities on projects such as green infrastructure, stormwater management and more to reduce flooding. The MWRD also provided more than 2,000 rain barrels free of charge to residents in Calumet and Dolton.

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