Where to Find Help Before, During and After a Flood in Kane County
- First in a Series.
With all the rain we’ve had in the past few days, and with more in the forecast, probably the first thing most Kane County residents want to know is what to do and where to go for assistance or more information. So we’re posting a series of articles on a few of the local resources available.
As a common-sense rule of thumb, if you have drainage or flood-related issues and live in municipal borders, your best bet in local government probably is your city or village’s public works department. For emergency help during a storm, your local police department or the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, local fire department or a 9-1-1 call might be appropriate, depending on the circumstances.
The Kane County Office of Emergency Management is also a good contact, but OEM typically responds to 9-1-1 calls and requests for support from local law enforcement and emergency agencies.
- If You’d Like to Get The CODE RED Emergency Notification App, You Can Download It Now.
Sources of additional local information include:
- Bylaws or covenants of your homeowner’s association.
- Plat of subdivision, which may be found at the Kane County Recorder’s Office or on the recorder’s website.
- Engineering plans, which may be available by contacting Water Resources.
Finally, one of the most helpful resources is the county’s website. Go to the home page to start, then click on the Government tab at the top of the page for links to various county departments.
Below is some general information, courtesy of Ready.gov about what do before, during and after a flood, plus links from the Kane County Health Department website’s “Natural Disasters” page.
Be Aware of Flood Hazards
SOURCE: Ready.gov
Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States. But not all floods are alike. Some floods develop slowly, while others such as flash floods, can develop in just a few minutes and without visible signs of rain. Additionally, floods can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states.
Flash floods can occur within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall, a dam or levee failure, or a sudden release of water held by an ice jam. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water carrying rocks, mud and other debris. Overland flooding, the most common type of flooding event typically occurs when waterways such as rivers or streams overflow their banks as a result of rainwater or a possible levee breach and cause flooding in surrounding areas. It can also occur when rainfall or snowmelt exceeds the capacity of underground pipes, or the capacity of streets and drains designed to carry flood water away from urban areas.
Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live or work, but especially if you are in low-lying areas, near water, behind a levee or downstream from a dam. Even very small streams, gullies, creeks, culverts, dry streambeds or low-lying ground that appear harmless in dry weather can flood.
Kane County Health Department
An excellent resource is the Kane County Health Department’s “Natural Disasters” page. Flooding info and links include:
- Flood and Flash Flood Info – Red Cross
- Flood: Before, During, and After
- Dealing With Moisture in the Home
- Mold & Mildew Issues
- Protect Yourself and Your Family After A Flood in English and Spanish.
- After the Flood – includes info on Well & Septic Issues with Flooding
- IDPH Flood Info Webpage
- CDC Flood Info Webpage
Read More
- Part of Fox River Over Flood Stage
- Kane Gets Most Rainfall in Illinois 24-Hour Period
- How Kane County Weathered Monday’s Storm
