Much of DuPage County was underwater by Thursday afternoon due to a rainstorm that dropped more than half a foot of water on some areas. Patch has been tracking some of the biggest and most interesting stories from the storm:
Body Found Floating at Graue Mill
The historic Graue Mill on the border of Hinsdale and Oak Brook was utterly swamped when Salt Creek rose in the heaviest rain anywhere, but the floodwaters brought something even darker: a dead human body. DuPage officials are currently trying to identify it and as of Friday afternoon, no more information is available.
Lisle Neighborhoods, Nursing Home Evacuated
Some of the worst flooding in all of DuPage happened in Lisle, where the Four Lakes community along the DuPage River—and next to a lake complex—lost power and was evacuated along with some other neighborhoods, some via boats. Rescue crews also had to carry about 50 elderly residents free from the village’s Snow Valley nursing home.
Waterfall Created, Fills Empty Swimming Hole
This time of year, the swimming hole at Centennial Beach in Naperville is supposed to be dry, but the rising DuPage River had something else to say about that as it became a waterfall cascading over a nature path and filling the pool a few weeks early. Patch has video of the waterfall and beach.
Gov. Quinn Visits Elmhurst
"One of the homeowners here in Elmhurst got 7 feet of water in their basement," Gov. Pat Quinn said while paying a visit to the badly-hit city. "I've seen it first hand." Elmhurst's city manager declared this storm wetter than anything from 1987 or 2010, and Quinn pledged that “we have to do better at water management and flood control.”
Opening of Triple-Murder Trial Postponed
Due to the flooding, the DuPage County Judicial Center was shut down and the opening much-publicized trial of Johnny Borizov, 32, of Willow Springs, for allegedly orchestrating a triple murder in Darien in 2010, was pushed to Tuesday next week. The trial is the first in DuPage to allow for photo and video recording in the courtroom.
Submerged Motorist Saved by Traffic Cop
Lemont suffered less flooding and fewer incidents than most DuPage towns, but one young traffic-safety officer had to spring into action when a car containing a driver became half-submerged in floodwater. The officer waded into the water, pulled the driver free, and then was taken to a hospital to be treated for exposure.
Cars Swamped in Belmont Underpass
One of Patch’s most-shared pictures of the day from DuPage was this one from the Belmont Road underpass beneath the BNSF railway in Downers Grove, where multiple cars were swamped in water up to their windows in the middle of the roadway.
Flooding Cancels Meeting About Flooding
The League of Women Voters of Wheaton was forced to cancel their meeting for Thursday night. The topic was to be "Flooding and Power Outages."
Riverwalk Becomes A Bit Too Literal
The Naperville Riverwalk becomes an actual “river walk” in this video as the DuPage river floods the sidewalks sweeps among the park’s statues. Among the swirling waters, Dick Tracy (the statue) appears to be trying to keep his balance, tie and trench coat flapping.
Darien Home Rocked by Lightning Bolt
Water wasn’t all that Thursday’s storm brought. A lightning strike on a Darien home charred the walls, damaged the roof and chimney and caused and estimated $25,000 in damage. Luckily, no one was hurt.
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