Current:Home > StocksEvacuations underway in northeast Illinois after ice jam break on river causes significant flooding-LoTradeCoin
Evacuations underway in northeast Illinois after ice jam break on river causes significant flooding
View Date:2024-12-23 16:16:52
WILMINGTON, Ill. (AP) — Authorities were evacuating homes Friday in northeastern Illinois after an ice jam break along the Kankakee River led to major flooding that was threatening about 200 homes.
A flash flood warning was in effect until mid-morning Saturday for Will and Grundy counties, specifically Wilmington, Illinois, located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of downtown Chicago.
An ice jam break caused the Kankakee River to rise about 3 feet (.91 meters), threatening areas between Wilmington and Phelan Acres, officials said.
Officials said about 12 miles (19 kilometers) of ice jammed up the river and as it melts, it not only is causing flooding along the river, but remaining chunks of ice could damage buildings and other structures as they float downstream.
Will County officials said Friday morning that the flooding occurred “suddenly” and alerts were sent to residents on their phones “advising them of the rising water levels and the need to evacuate.”
The Will County Emergency Management Agency was working to evacuate the area, where officials said about 200 homes along the Kankakee River are at risk and two roads were closed until further notice.
Resident Daniel Beck was among 14 people who were evacuated from their homes to a temporary shelter and he told WBBM-TV that the flooding was “devastating all these homes.”
Another resident, Julie Schmitke, said she had to be carried during her evacuation because she only has one leg.
“They had to carry me to a drier room, and I was just waiting there for the ambulance to come and transport me here,” Schmitke said.
veryGood! (18995)
Related
- Britney Spears Reunites With Son Jayden Federline After His Move to Hawaii
- Carolina Hurricanes GM Don Waddell steps down; would Columbus Blue Jackets be interested?
- NCAA women's lacrosse semifinals preview: Northwestern goes for another title
- NOAA 2024 Hurricane Forecast Is for More Storms Than Ever Before
- Certifying this year’s presidential results begins quietly, in contrast to the 2020 election
- New Mexico officials warn of health effects from rising temperatures
- Competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi feels body is 'broken,' retires due to health issues
- Kevin Costner remembers meeting young Ben Affleck, Matt Damon on 'Field of Dreams' set
- Love Is Blind’s Chelsea Blackwell Reacts to Megan Fox’s Baby News
- Missouri lawmaker says his daughter and her husband were killed in Haiti while working as missionaries
Ranking
- 'Full House' star Dave Coulier diagnosed with stage 3 cancer
- Special session for ensuring President Biden makes Ohio’s fall ballot could take several days
- Morgan Spurlock, 'Super Size Me' director and documentarian, dead at 53: Reports
- Morgan Spurlock, documentary filmmaker behind Super Size Me, dies of cancer at 53
- Michigan soldier’s daughter finally took a long look at his 250 WWII letters
- Here's why summer travel vacations will cost more this year
- More than 100 people believed killed by a landslide in Papua New Guinea, Australian media report
- Most believe Trump probably guilty of crime as his NYC trial comes to an end, CBS News poll finds
Recommendation
-
Michigan soldier’s daughter finally took a long look at his 250 WWII letters
-
Competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi feels body is 'broken,' retires due to health issues
-
Shop Lands' End Irresistible Memorial Day Sale & Get 50% off Your Order Plus an Extra 10% on Swim
-
Victoria Justice Teases What Goes Down in Victorious and Zoey 101 Group Chats
-
She was found dead while hitchhiking in 1974. An arrest has finally been made.
-
Taiwan scrambles jets, puts forces on alert as China calls new war games powerful punishment for the island
-
Search of Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect’s home on Long Island enters its 5th day
-
Killer whales keep ramming and sinking boats. Scientists now may know why, report says.