Also, I just received a call from Dr. Lamberson that all District 96 schools are closed on Tuesday as well, but they anticipate opening on Wednesday.
Riverside Info » About Riverside
Riverside Flooding Emergency
(20 posts)-
Posted Monday Sep 15, 2008 14:54 #
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Tuesday update from the Village e-flash:
The flood water from the Des Plaines River continues to recede. The Village is pumping the water out of the area. We expect to have Groveland, Park Place and Lincoln Avenue to be reopened on Wednesday, September 17, 2008.
The natural gas has been turned off in the affected area for those buildings with exterior gas meters. Residents will need to repair/replace damaged equipment that operates with natural gas. Contact NICOR to reestablish your natural gas service.
Residents will be able to make entry to their buildings on Wednesday to begin the clean up effort. You will not have gas or electric service. Occupancy will not be possible until the electrical systems are repaired/replaced and pass the inspection of the Village Electrical Inspector. Once the electric system passes review, the Village will contact Commonwealth Edison to restore your electric service.
On Friday, September 19, the waste hauler will take item's that you may wish to throw out. Residents are reminded that carpet and pad must be cut into 4-foot strips.
District 96 schools will be reopened on Wednesday. Riverside Brookfield will remain closed on September 17.
West Avenue is currently still under water and residents on that street are not yet able to return to their homes. We will continue to monitor the water levels. We will provide an update tomorrow.
The electric service has been restored on Woodside, Maplewood, Kimbark and part of Forest Avenue (63 homes). Some parts of PIne Avenue remain without power due to a large tree on the power lines. Com Ed is not yet able to access the area damaged due to the flood waters.
The Forest Avenue bridge remains closed as does First Avenue from Ogden Avenue to 31st Street. These roads are expected to remain closed at least until the end of this week.
Please continue to observe all the posted road closings. The flood waters remain a dangerous area; please stay away from the flood waters.
Posted Tuesday Sep 16, 2008 17:35 # -
Village e-flash Thursday 9/17:
Greetings,
Groveland, Lincoln, and Park are now open for traffic. At 3:00 p.m. today, First Avenue and Forest, including the bridge, should also be open to traffic. We are awaiting an IDOT inspection of the bridge and the cleaning of First Avenue before we act. West Avenue remains impassable.
Allied Waste will be placing large dumpsters on Groveland and Lincoln and Fairbank to accept construction waste. Regular waste will be picked up on Friday.
Village is working hard to restore utilities. Our inspectors completed and restored electric to 63 dwelling units yesterday. You will have to employ a contractor to assist you in evaluating/repairing/replacing damaged electrical equipment or natural gas appliances tht might be damaged from the flood prior to contacting Com Ed or NICOR. The Village will work with you to establish inspections of your property prior to restoration.
Until the propety has electric restored, we are encouraging residents to not remain overnight in your homes.
If you have an emergency, please dial 9-1-1. For non-emergency questions and flood updates, please call 447-2123 or 447-2127.
Posted Thursday Sep 18, 2008 10:05 # -
Just a note about the Swan Pond. Iwas down near the little dam yesterday, and saw two brown snakes, roughly three feet long, in the water. I got a long stick and poked one gently and it was not pleased. I am not an expert (herptologist?), but I would say it might be a cottonmouth (water moccasin) or the other one that sometimes is found here that starts with an M. I remember them being in the FPs around here when i was a kid, so I think it mght be good to issue a warning to let people know that there are some different creatures around as a result of the flood. I have seen one like this several times in the river just below the little dam. I pointed that one out to a guy that was fishing and he said it was a cottonmouth. If that is what they are, those babies are venomous and will bite. So if anyone (or any dog) happens to step on one or reach down to pick something up they may be in for a surprise. I just started picking up the dangerous trash like broken glass when i saw them, so keep your eyes open. When th water is gone they will go too.
Posted Friday Sep 19, 2008 11:13 # -
Spent some timetoday picking up trash, and the pumps were making good progress in clearing the water. But the scope of the debris problem will require equipment - there must be tons of stones and gravel and sand and driftwood in there. But we'll bring it back.
Posted Friday Sep 19, 2008 21:56 # -
It would be good to notify the vm office and have them put out an eflash of this report of venomous snakes. Didn't know we had em in these parts.
Now I am afraid to go down there, but maybe we can have volunteer days to help clean it up?
Posted Saturday Sep 20, 2008 12:00 # -
They will leave with the water. But I did stop at both the Village Hall and at Public Works and tell them I thought it would be good to put out an e-flash - guess they thought this other nonsense they send out sometimes was more important.
Posted Saturday Sep 20, 2008 18:07 # -
I'm not so sure the snakes will leave with the water. My guess is that what you saw was an eastern massasauga, and that the flood disturbed them. They're probably always around, we just don't see them often.
According to the Illinois DNR, they live in scattered locations within the counties of Madison, Clinton, Piatt, Knox, Warren, Will, Cook, and Lake. Their habitats are prairie wetlands and river floodplains.
On a related note, for petty reasons of revenge, I was happy to see Swan Pond flooded. A couple weeks ago, I was down there with my kids, and my oldest (4 yrs old) fell into a wasps nest while exploring by the river bank. He got about 10 stings, I got about 20 when I dragged him out, and the other kids got a few as well. I took them down after the flood and pointed out that the nest is under 6 feet of water, and that the wasps were all dead.
Posted Monday Sep 22, 2008 13:16 # -
Yesterday I hauled out 6 big bags of broken glass, cans, rusted metal - the dangerous stuff I could get to. There is plenty more and I will try and get what I can when the water goes out - I see they are pumping again.
John - that was the name of the snake I was trying to think of (see above.) Nevertheless I did ask the Village to post an e-flash about this, but I guess they thought it was too inconsequential. However I did get one today about a DUI arrest where the guy arrested had an automatic piece under the seat. I guess it's all about priorities... and what they think is important for use to know. Or maybe they think if we read that we'll vote for the referendum so they can hire a detective and buy another squad car... Prioriies, folks.
Posted Monday Sep 22, 2008 14:29 # -
FYI - This looks like what I saw - the younger ones being paler.
From Wikipedia:
Common names
Massasauga, black massasauga, black rattler, black snapper, gray rattlesnake (Iowa, fide Guthrie, 1927), little gray rattlesnake (Canada), muck rattler, prairie rattlesnake, pygmy rattler, sauger, spotted rattler, swamp rattler, vÃbora de cascabel (Mexico),[2] dwarf prairie rattlesnake, eastern massasauga, great adder, ground rattlesnake, Kirtland's rattlesnake, little black rattlesnake (Barton, 1805), massasauga rattlesnake, massasauger, prairie massasauga, rattlesnake, small prairie rattlesnake, snapper, swamp massasauga, swamp rattlesnake, triple-spotted rattlesnake,[4] mississauga.[5]
This is the only venomous snake in Michigan, where it is known as the Michigan rattler.
The name massasauga means "great river-mouth" in the Chippewa language and was probably given to describe its habitat in Chippewa country: swampland surrounding river deltas.[6]Posted Monday Sep 22, 2008 14:33 #
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