Flood Damage Assessment Survey
for immediate release 5 PM, Tuesday, July 26, 2011, Des Plaines, Illinois
As part of the City’s ongoing effort to assess damages as a result of the July 23rd flood event, the City is conducting a self-assessment survey of damages to residences and businesses in Des Plaines. The results of this survey will be reported to Cook County and used as the basis for determining whether state and/or federal assistance will be extended for losses experienced as a result of this flood event. The City is asking all residents and businesses that experienced flood related losses to report this information.
To report your information as a part of this survey, visit the self-assessment survey website at http://myflood.desplaines.org and complete the online form by Friday, July 29 at 5 PM. If you are unable to access the online form, paper copies of the form are available at the Police Department, 1420 Miner Street.
Please note that no funds are available at this time for reimbursement of flood damages. If a state or federal determination is made that this flood event qualifies for reimbursement, the City will make reimbursement information available to the public at that time.
Will Soderberg
City of Des Plaines Media Services
1420 Miner St, Des Plaines, IL 60016
847.391.5327 (office)
847.954.9073 (cell)
847.391.5003 (fax)
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Latest Riverside Flood Group news
Neighbors,
Last Saturday morning members of Riverside Residents for Flood Prevention gathered for an informal meeting to discuss flood related issues affecting our area and the status of current projects. For those who we unable to attend, here's a brief recap.
Armitage, Fairbanks and Hofmann Dam projects-
Burlington Northern Sana Fe (BNSF) railroad bridge-
Lower Des Plaines River Detailed Watershed Plan (DWP)-
Last Saturday morning members of Riverside Residents for Flood Prevention gathered for an informal meeting to discuss flood related issues affecting our area and the status of current projects. For those who we unable to attend, here's a brief recap.
Armitage, Fairbanks and Hofmann Dam projects-
· Armitage and Fairbanks Dams: Arlan Juhl, Manager Division of Planning of the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources (IDNR) confirmed with us that the contracts for removal have been awarded, both to the same company.
· Fairbanks Dam: Juhl said the Fairbanks plan had originally been submitted for removal "in the dry", using a coffer dam; due to concerns about the coffer dam causing potential flood issues above the dam, IDNR required the company to re-submit a new plan for removal "in the wet." The revised plan has been submitted but is not yet approved.
· Armitage Dam: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project supervisor Jeff Zuercher confirmed that the contracted company is still working on its project submittals, specifically on its accident prevention plan, so no approvals to start work had been granted as of June 30. Zuercher says they anticipate granting Armitage Dam approvals within the next week or two, which means that we should see work begin on this dam within the next few weeks.
· Hofmann Dam notching/Swan Pond work: Still in panning stages, Olmsted Society of Riverside has been expressing certain concerns during the planning stages; mainly advocating the prevention of any unnecessary tree removal, evaluating drainage plans and ensuring thorough post-project restoration.
Burlington Northern Sana Fe (BNSF) railroad bridge-
· BNSF: We have been in contact with BNSF Director of Public Affairs Amy McBeth. In a reply to us and to a plea from the Village of Riverside to consider discussing the problem, the railroad has stated that they do not believe that the piers, which are at a 34 degree angle to the flow of water and block 17 percent of the river flow, have any impact on flooding. They believe there are other remedies that would better mitigate flooding, such as the Hofmann Dam notching and the building of levees. We disagree.
· Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD): They studied the bridge and found it to be a concern though MWRD Sr. Civil Engineer Joseph Kratzer told us "we looked at the affect of the skewed BNSF RR bridge piers in our Lower Des Plaines River Detailed Watershed Plan (DWP), and essentially came to the same conclusion as the USACE/IDNR did. We evaluated the benefits of the pier extensions along with other structural measures to address flooding along the Des Plaines River in the Riverside area, which are summarized in our DWP report." "Upon completion of our study in February 2011, the recommended projects (including the BNSF RR pier extensions, “DPR-11C”) were presented to our Board of Commissioners for prioritization. Since the pier extension project’s benefit to cost ratio was not as high as others identified in the plan, it was not selected for project implementation by our Board at this time. However, this will not affect the analysis by the USACE/IDNR as they work to complete their study."
· IDNR: Is still working to complete their own study and is considering addressing the project and has been contacted for info, no further info as of this date. We will be researching state and federal guidelines and dictates that may support the fact that these piers are no longer lined up correctly with the flow of water as they once were 100 years ago when they were installed.
· MWRD has completed the DWP and design of projects is under way. The board has approved the plan and it is funded directly by the MWRD. There is no firm schedule yet. The plans were passed on 3/17/11 with about 28 projects to be undertaken all along the river from the northern county line to the south. For the entire report click here. One of the projects DPR-13 is part of the plan and will definitely help mitigate flooding for residents of the Riverside Lawn area. Since the projects are system-wide, Cook County residents all along the river should see benefits.
Riverside Dept of Public Works-
· DPW Director Ed Bailey has been in communication with our group regarding some storm sewer problems he uncovered in a survey of the system upon his taking the office. After a study of options and approval from the MWRD, the Village has decided to install gate valves in each of the storm sewer outflows into the Des Plaines River. One valve in the outflow adjacent to the Forest and Groveland intersection and one in the outflow off West Avenue. They are currently obtaining competitive quotes for the valves for the 2012 budget. These valves will help prevent swelling river levels from flowing back into the Village storm sewer system and stressing its capacity.
· Mr. Bailey also brought to our attention a new sandbag design that the Village is currently evaluating by a company called FloodBloc http://www.fbsap.com/. There was a sample at the meeting for residents to examine. Basically it is a flattened 1lb burlap sack that upon contact with water for 3 minutes, swells to a typical sandbag size and increases its weight to 40 lbs. After a flood event, the bags are left to dry to their original flat 1lb state for proper disposal. They are EPA approved and non-toxic. There are many benefits to the bags including ease of dispatch, lower labor cost and time and the elimination of the coordination of dump truck loads of sand during a flood event.
Thanks to all who contributed and to Mary and Tom for hosting. More to come on all these and other topics as we learn more facts.
Riverside Residents for Flood Prevention
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