|
| Rising Waters Threaten Chain |
Estimates by Ed Lescher, Emergency Services Disaster Agency coordinators, says at least 25 homes in Fox Lake, Illinois had flooded basements by Tuesday afternoon. "I expect that number to double," he told CBS2 Chicago. "The Chain is just swelling out as much as it can. This area will be flooded for at least a week."
The Chain O' Lakes waters, swollen from rain, began flooding into inhabited areas on Monday. Water flowing south from Wisconsin is expected to continue to raise the waters for the next few days.
Rita Lee, a hydraulic engineer for the Department of Natural Resources, said that the hinge-crest gate on the Algonquin Dam, where the rivers was about 4 1/2 feet higher than usual, and the five sluice gates on the Stratton Dam were opened to ease water movement in an attempt to stem flooding. The water level has been steadily rising for the last few days.
Lee expects the flooding to occur further south of the chain, along the Fox River.
"I'm sure there is going to be some flooding," she told CBS2. "I can't tell people how high the water is going to get. It's still going to be several days that the chain is going to continue to rise."
Officials have closed the upper Fox River and the Chain O' Lakes to all boats, fearing that the flooding won't peak until this weekend.
Residents have criticized how officials have handled the flooding, contending that if the floodgates had been opened on the Stratton Dam earlier, water levels on the Chain O' Lake could have been lower.
"I think there should be more competent management. Three floods in nine months is ridiculous," David Schultz, a home owner near Fox Lake, told the Chicago Sun-Times. "This is just messed up."
To see previous Spotlights in our new, easier to read Spotlight archive, click here, or discuss this story on our new message boards.
|
|
|
|
)