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WHEATON – After the city of Wheaton was declared to be in a state of emergency due to flooding Thursday, nearly 20 streets remain closed Friday, according to a city news release.
As of 8:15 a.m. Friday, the following roadways are closed:
• Main Street and Route 38 (southbound open)
• Main Street and Cole Avenue
• Main Street and Willow Avenue
• Delles Road south of Roosevelt Road
• Dorchester Avenue south of Childs Street
• Briarcliffe Boulevard and Windsor Drive
• Gary and Harrison avenues
• Gables Boulevard and Childs Street
• Bristol Court and Bradford Drive
• Thompson Drive and Wadsworth Road
• President and Sumner streets
• The 500 block of East Crescent and Washington streets
• College Avenue and Wilmette Street
• Illinois and Main streets
• Dorchester Avenue and Childs Street
• Vernon Avenue and Hickory Lane
• Main Street and Parkway Drive
• Cherry Court and Ranch Road
• Eastbound Roosevelt Road from Adare Drive to Westhaven Drive is reduced to one lane.
City officials ask that residents use caution and avoid driving through flooded areas.
All schools in Community Unit School District 200 reopened Friday after closing Thursday. St. Michael Parish School and St. Francis High School in Wheaton reopened as well.
Residents and businesses with calls related to flooding issues should call 630-260-2110. Emergency calls should be made to 911. Sandbags are available at the city's public works facility at 821 W. Liberty Drive.
The city of Wheaton is seeking photographs from residents and business owners to document the effects of the rainfall. Anyone with photos that show flooding in Wheaton should send them via email to stormwater@wheaton.il.us, post them on Twitter using #wheatonflood or mail them to City of Wheaton, Attn: Stormwater Engineer, 303 W. Wesley St., Wheaton, IL 60187. The time and location of the photo should be included.
On Thursday, Wheaton police Lt. Bob Miller said several cars were stuck due to flooding. Wheaton firefighters had removed drivers from their vehicles, but vehicles had to remain where they were until water levels decreased and they could be towed.
City workers opened manhole covers and cleared drainage gates, but it would take time for the water to go down, Miller said.
In addition to the city of Wheaton's emergency response to the flooding, the DuPage County Stormwater Management continues to operate all of its larger flood control facilities due to rainfall in the area, according to a county news release.
The National Weather Service reported the DuPage area received about 4 to 6 inches of rain beginning Wednesday, according to the release. Minimal precipitation is expected Friday.
The rain caused water levels to rise in Salt Creek and the West Branch DuPage River, leading the county to operate its flood control facilities including Fawell Dam (Naperville), Spring Creek Reservoir (Bloomingdale), Elmhurst Quarry (Elmhurst) and Wood Dale-Itasca Reservoir (Wood Dale). Other smaller facilities continue to operate as well.
County streams and rivers are beginning to show signs of receding, according to the release. The county anticipates that some facilities will end operations later Friday.
The county's four larger flood control facilities are controlled by staff members based on a predetermined operating plan, according to the release. The other 11 facilities operate without staffers by using fixed weirs and natural drainage systems. The 15 facilities have a total floodwater storage capacity of nearly 4 billion gallons.