Residents suffer flooding problems

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Residents suffer flooding problems

CHICAGO HEIGHTS: City appeals to local, state programs, as well as

FEMA

http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2006/04/19/news/illiana/0e79ea962708

a2d586257154007ff518.txt

BY PAUL CZAPKOWICZ

Times Correspondent

This story ran on nwitimes.com on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 12:53 AM

CDT

CHICAGO HEIGHTS | Water-weary residents flooded City Hall Monday

night with stories of raw sewage, damaged property and concerns

about mold as they asked for help and answers concerning the

flooding that occurred after Sunday's heavy rainfall.

Charlotte Nichols, 939 Ave., said her home never before

flooded in the six years that she has lived there. But this week is

a different story.

" We had water coming up out of our toilet in our basement like a

fountain, " she said.

Nichols brought photos to Monday night's meeting showing the damage

caused by almost 2 feet of water accumulated in her home. One

picture showed her daughter's unopened Easter basket on a table. It

was originally on the floor but apparently floated up onto a table.

Harold Foston, director for the Water Department, assisted the

city's Street and Sewer Department in answering an estimated 1,000

calls for assistance were. He said the reported 6.5 inches of rain

simply fell too quickly for the sewer system to handle.

" We could put detention ponds, retention ponds all over the city, "

Mayor DeLuca said. " We could have the most modern sewer

system that the United States can offer and it still would not have

handled what the Lord dealt us last night. "

Some residents believe that pumps malfunctioned, contributing to the

flooding problems.

" I would like to see (the city) reimburse us for our property loss

because something happened and it wasn't just an act of God, "

Nichols said.

Second Ward Alderman inquired if the federal or state

government could be persuaded to declare the city a disaster area in

order to help homeowners replace ruined appliances or clean up waste.

" We have reached out to FEMA and a few other county and state

organizations regarding that and have already asked them to check

into the situation, " Chief of Staff Matt Fares said.

Fares said Lynwood and Park Forest were among the other nearby

communities that also suffered flooding. He said that the entire

Glenwood School for Boys and Girls was underwater, with 4 to 5 feet

in its classrooms.

The Chicago Heights Police Department also felt the rain's impact.

" We lost a squad car, " Deputy Chief Camilli said. " A squad

car was going to assist somebody and didn't play the water right. It

actually floated away and submerged. "

Sixth Ward Alderman Mike Sabo suggested that much of the flooding

could have been avoided if more residents had participated in

a " 50/50 program " that the city initiated roughly three years ago.

With this program, the city agrees to pay half the price of the

installation of overhead sewers, up to $3,000.

" What that does, is it segregates storm water from sanitary water

and prohibits any water from infiltrating through your sewers, " Sabo

said.

Sabo said all residents were notified about the program in a mailed

newsletter.

" Now we see four hundred-some houses flooding, " he said.

City Engineer Al Marconi said that the cost of installation of the

overhead sewers ranges from $4,000 to $7,000.