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Riverside Info » About Riverside

1. ChrisHajer
   Member

   From a village e-flash:

   The best possible information that we have received from the National Weather Service indicates that the Village of Riverside will face a serious flooding condition. Areas of the Village including West Avenue, Groveland, Lincoln, Park Place, Forest, Parkview, First Avenue, Forbes, Maplewood and Fairbanks are expected to be involved. The impact of the flooding depends on both the continued flow of the river as well as anticipated rainfall.

   Residents in the affected area are advised to move cars to a designated parking area in the rear of Hauser Junior High School at 65 Woodside Road or the Riverside Swim Club at 100 Bloomingbank Road. The Village of Riverside Police Department has initiated emergency parking restrictions. Cars that are left parked in the street in the affected area may be subject to being towed.

   If your home is in the affected area, move as many of your belongings as possible from the lowest level of your home to a higher level and be prepared to evacuate your home. At this time there is no need for evacuation, however, you should monitor conditions around your home.

   The Village of Riverside will attempt to keep affected residents informed of changing conditions. At this time we expect the river to crest by approximately 7:00 AM Sunday morning 09/13/08. Additional information may be found at http://www.weather.gov/ahps/ — choose the Riverside Des Plaines River gauge. The Village of Riverside has sandbags and sand available to residents in the affected area.

   If you have an emergency situation call 9-1-1. If you have questions about what to do or to obtain sandbags, call 447-2123.

   Please do not call 9-1-1 with questions about flooding.

   Posted Sunday Sep 14, 2008 13:35 #

2. ChrisHajer
   Member

   From the Village e-flash:

   The Village of Riverside is experiencing a serious flooding situation. As of 8:00AM Sunday morning, the best current information we have is that the DesPlaines River is one and one-half feet over flood stage and continuing to rise. It is currently expected to crest overnight tonight after rising another one and one-half feet. If this prediction is accurate, the current flooding will reach historic levels. The river is affecting areas of Maplewood, Park Place, Groveland, Lincoln, Forest, West, Pine, Parkview, Forbes, First Avenue, and Fairbank Road. Parts or all of these streets are currently impassible, including First Avenue. The Village of Riverside is asking all residents to observe the barriers put in place in these roads. Please stay out of the affected areas. Parking for residents of these areas is available at Central/Hauser School (65 Woodside) and Riverside Swim Club (100 Bloomingbank).

   PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE OR WALK THROUGH FLOODED AREAS. Even shallow water may be dangerous and conditions have been changing very rapidly. If you become trapped, CALL 9-1-1. The Riverside Fire Department has been and will continue to remove residents by boat, if necessary.

   Please do not call 9-1-1 to report flooding.

   We will do our best to keep all residents informed with the information available to us.

   Posted Sunday Sep 14, 2008 13:39 #

3. ChrisHajer
   Member

   From Jo Ann Zaper of the Riverside Junior Women's Charity:

   Good morning all!

   I received a phone call from Ben Sells (Village commissioner) this morning regarding the flooding and the potential number of people who may be displaced by the additional rains today.

   Riverside Lawn is already completely flooded, with basements and first floors completely filled. Cars are underwater. If you aren't aware, First Avenue is closed as well.

   There are already 10-15 people at town hall, and there may be more to come. Ben has asked me to coordinate an effort to find beds and transportation for people who may not be able to bunk down on a cot in town hall. He will contact me again early this afternoon with more information. People have been told that they will be unable to turn to their homes before Tuesday.

   If you have a spot available, you can contact me directly at 708-699-6074, and I will keep a log for Ben, if the need arises. Please leave your full name and phone number where you can be reached, the number of spots you have, and I will forward this on to Ben.

   Even if you cannot take anyone in, town hall is in need of pet cages, as people are arriving with their pet companions. Please tag your cage with your name and phone number, and drop any cages you can spare at town hall.

   Thank you,

   Jo Ann Zaper
   Riverside Junior Woman's Charity

   Posted Sunday Sep 14, 2008 13:43 #

4. ChrisHajer
   Member

   From another e-flash:

   The Village and Township Offices are open. Residents affected by the flooding may seek temporary emergency shelter at the Riverside Township Hall.

   There is not currently a mandatory evacuation order. However, once water levels rise to a level where utility connections will be a hazard the utilities will be disconnected and a mandatory evacuation order will be implemented. Residents in affected areas should plan to be out of their homes for at least several days.

   The immediately affected areas are as follows:

   West Avenue, Groveland Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Pine Avenue, Maplewood Road, Parkview Road, First Avenue, Park Place, Fairbanks Road. There is NO PARKING on the above streets effective immediately.

   PLEASE DO NOT WALK OR DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED AREAS! Even shallow water can be dangerous and conditions have been changing very rapidly. If you be become trapped, call 911. The Riverside Fire Department has been and will continue to evacuate residents by boat, if necessary.

   Posted Sunday Sep 14, 2008 13:47 #

5. ChrisHajer
   Member

   From the Landmark:

   Any resident wishing to get materials
   to make sandbags can call the Riverside
   Fire Department at 447-2123.
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Record flooding predicted for Riverside
   Emergency shelter set up at township hall, in case of mandatory evacuation

   By BOB UPHUES
   Editor

   The National Weather Service is predicting record flooding in Riverside on Sunday as strong rains continue to drench the Chicago area. In the past two days, 6 to 9 inches of rain has swollen the Des Plaines River to 6.91 feet as of 4:45 p.m. Saturday. Flood stage in Riverside is 7.0 feet.

   By Sunday afternoon, the National Weather Service has predicted that the Des Plaines River will crest at 10.5 feet. Water has begun to fill Swan Pond and Indian Gardens. First Avenue was open to traffic as of 5:45 p.m., but is expected to be closed between Ogden Avenue and 31st Street because of flooding in the next few hours, according to Fire Chief Kevin Mulligan.

   Mulligan said that the Groveland berm ought to be able to contain a 10.5-foot crest and that there was no sign of seepage from the berm at this time. The river has begun threatening adjacent properties and the village has provided a half dozen residents on Maplewood Road and Groveland Avenue with sand and bags to erect makeshift flood barriers.

   An emergency shelter has also been established inside the Riverside Township Hall, at 27 Riverside Road, in the event of a mandatory evacuation. Firefighters have been going door to door on Fairbank, Coonley, Maplewood, Groveland and West to keep residents informed of the situation. Should a mandatory evacuation be ordered, residents will be notified in person by fire department personnel.

   The highest crest on record in Riverside is 9.90 feet on Aug. 15, 1987. Flood waters that year spilled down Groveland and West avenues near the Des Plaines River.

   In August 2007, heavy rains pushed the river to crest at 7.7 feet. While flood waters threatened backyards along West Avenue and Maplewood Road, Riverside escaped major flooding. The water was high enough, however, to flood significant portions of unincorporated Riverside Lawn south of the Des Plaines River, a scenario that's being replayed now.

   Meanwhile, in Brookfield, a portion of the Hollywood section of the village has flooded. Near the intersection of Southview and McCormick avenues, where road work has been taking place, crews were busy backfilling the submerged roadbed to allow access to the Czech Terrace area of Lyons.

   Water is also beginning to pool in the 3500 block of Forest Avenue adjacent to Salt Creek, and the village is expected to close that street off to traffic as waters continue to rise.

   Capt. Scott Saulters of the Brookfield Fire Department added that any area near Salt Creek is considered a "flood concern" at this time.

   Posted Sunday Sep 14, 2008 14:24 #

6. ChrisHajer
   Member

   Another village e-lert:

   The Riverside Police Department has called in additional staffing to assist in the protection of properties left by victims of the flooding.

   We will have additional officers patrolling the area affected by the flooding, helping to protect your property.

   Riverside Police Officers will be asking for identification of people entering into areas that residents had to evacuate in order to maintain security for your property. Please assist us with this measure by having a photo identification card ready when attempting to enter these areas. Your cooperation is appreciated as checking IDs are intended to enhance security and maintain order.

   Thank you for your assistance and understanding during this crisis.

   Posted Sunday Sep 14, 2008 17:30 #

7. ChrisHajer
   Member

   And, yet another from the village:

   The Village and Township Offices are open. Residents affected by the flooding may seek temporary emergency shelter at the Riverside Township Hall; however, it will not be available overnight.

   There is not currently a mandatory evacuation order. However, once flood waters rise to a level where continued utility connections will be a hazard, the utilities will be disconnected and a mandatory evacuation order will be implemented. Residents in affected areas should plan to be out of their homes for at least several days. As a safety precaution, residents should disconnect their electric and natural gas service.

   Flooding is currently impacting the following areas:
   West Avenue, Groveland Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Pine Avenue, Maplewood Road, Parkview Road, First Avenue, Park Place, Fairbanks Road, Waubansee, Ridgewood, Forbes, West Burlington and West Quincy. THERE IS NO PARKING ON THE ABOVE STREETS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

   PLEASE DO NOT WALK OR DRIVE TROUGH FLOODED AREAS! Even shallow water can be dangerous and conditions have been changing very rapidly. If you become trapped, call 911. The Riverside Fire Department has been and will continue to evacuate residents by boat, if necessary.

   The following streets are closed due to flooding - please plan your trips accordingly:

   • Ogden Avenue - Lawndale to First Avenue
   • First Avenue - North of Ogden to Cermak Road
   • 31st Street - from Woodside westbound past the Zoo and Salt Creek
   • 26th Street - from First Avenue to DesPlaines
   • Woodside Road southbound
   • Barrypoint Road from Guthrie Park Southbound

   The Riverside Brookfield High School announced they will be closed on Monday, September 15, 2008. All District 96 Schools will be closed on Monday as well.

   Posted Sunday Sep 14, 2008 17:32 #

8. ChrisHajer
   Member

   And so on:

   The Village and Township Offices will close at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 14. Overnight, residents should seek temporary emergency shelter by calling the American Red Cross - Chicago Hotline (312) 729-6100. The Village offices will reopen for regular business on Monday at 8:00 a.m. The Township offices will open at 8:30 a.m.

   There is not currently a mandatory evacuation order. However, once water levels rise to a level where utility connections will be a hazard, the utilities will be disconnected and a mandatory evacuation order will be implemented. Residents in affected areas should plan to be out of their homes for at least several days. To avoid danger, residents may choose to disconnect their electric and their natural gas.

   The immediately affected areas are as follows:

   West Avenue, Groveland Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Pine Avenue, Maplewood Road, Parkview Road, First Avenue, Park Place, Fairbanks Road, Waubansee, Ridgewood, Forbes, West Burlington and West Quincy. There is NO PARKING on the above streets effective immediately.

   PLEASE DO NOT WALK OR DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED AREAS! Even shallow water can be dangerous and conditions have been changing very rapidly. If you become trapped, call 911. The Riverside Fire Department has been and will continue to evacuate residents by boat, if necessary.

   The following streets have been closed - please plan your trips accordingly:

   • Ogden Avenue - Lawndale to First Avenue
   • First Avenue - North of Ogden to Cermak Road
   • 31st Street - From Woodside westbound passed the Zoo and Salt Creek
   • 26th Street - From First Avenue to Des Plaines
   • Woodside Road southbound
   • Barrypoint Road from Guthrie Park Southbound

   The Riverside Brookfield High School announced they will be closed Monday, September 15, 2008. All District 96 Schools will be closed on Monday as well.

   Posted Sunday Sep 14, 2008 22:05 #

9. ChrisHajer
   Member

   Emergency Donations; a thank you from the township via e-flash:

   The Riverside Township wishes to thank all the residents who so generously donated the use of their towels, blankets, cots, pet crates and various other supplies to assist their neighbors in need. At this time we have what we feel is a sufficient amount to weather the next few days as long as there are no more unforeseen changes in conditions. We appreciate your desire to help but please contact the Township or Village before bringing in any further supplies. Thank you again for all your help during this emergency.

   Posted Sunday Sep 14, 2008 22:06 #

10. ChrisHajer
    Member

    One for Monday:

    All fields throughout Riverside will be closed on Monday, September 15 and Tuesday, September 16, 2008.

    Harrington Park's Main Field will be closed through Friday, September 19, 2008.
    Watch for updates with information on soccer practices. We hope to resume play on Wednesday, September 17.

    The Parks & Recreation Department does not have power or phone service at this time, so all programming scheduled for today has been cancelled. We hope to have power restored tomorrow.

    Posted Monday Sep 15, 2008 14:52 #

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