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Rain, melting snow lead to flooding this week in H-F area

Fifteen inches of snow, followed by a major winter rainstorm, have tested public works crews in Flossmoor and Homewood this month.

Fifteen inches of snow, followed by a major winter rainstorm, have tested public works crews in Flossmoor and Homewood this month.
 
Flooding was reported throughout Flossmoor in the wake of heavy rainfall on Monday and Tuesday,
 
Public Works Director John Brunke said snow that fell two weeks ago exacerbated this week’s storm.
 
“The snow melt and piles did not help the situation since they blocked catch basin inlets and contributed to the precipitation amount,” Brunke said. “Many of the village’s storm sewer systems in our older neighborhoods were inundated with the rainfall amounts.”
 
In all, approximately three inches of rain fell in Flossmoor on Monday and Tuesday, he said. Crews worked overtime during the overnight hours, closing flooded roads and checking on wastewater lift stations.
 
Notable flooded areas in Flossmoor were the Leavitt Park area, rear yards along Hagen Lane and the Flossmoor Road viaduct.
 
“The entire region had localized flooding,” Brunke said.
 
This week’s storm was the first major test for the Cherry Creek flood prevention project, which was completed last fall by the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago. 
 
The $4.1 million project runs east through Homewood-Flossmoor High School, then north along Governors Highway in Flossmoor and into Homewood. It was designed to alleviate flooding in homes just north of the high school and on the east side of Governors Highway.
 
Brunke said the Cherry Creek improvements “worked very well.” 
 
“I went by H-F High School on Tuesday and it appeared that the neighboring residents’ yards were dry, which usually wasn’t the case in storm events prior to the improvement.”
 
Brunke said he’s “very happy with how it was performing.”

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