Flooding Prevention & Resources
With Spring comes rain and wind! Here are some reminders for avoiding flooding and responding to issues with trees during heavy rainfall:
Report Water Collecting in the Street
If you notice water that's collected or remained in the street after recent storms, file a Water on Street Complaint with 311. Note that you will be asked to provide the following information:
Address
Location of the water (middle of street, curb line, alley, etc)
Whether water is bubbling up and from where
Description of any recent construction on the street that you're aware of
Emergency Tree Debris Removal
For emergency tree removal, contact 311 or our office 773-784-5277. Here's a list of tree debris that might qualify as an emergency:
Fallen trees
Tree debris/branches on power lines
Trees with multiple large branches falling down
Large pieces of tree debris blocking public access areas
Flood Prevention
The Department of Water Management has issued the following recommendations for flood prevention:
Keep your gutters clean of leaves.
Clean nearby catch basin grates of yard waste and trash.
Only dump water down the drain.
Avoid running a dishwasher or washing machine during storms.
Disconnect your downspout from the sewer system. Learn more.
Sign Up for MWRD Overflow Action Day alerts
In most of the Chicago area, rainwater goes through the same set of pipes as the water that goes down the drain in your home. When too much water enters sewers too quickly, the sewers can back up into streets and basements.
You can help reduce basement backups and flooding by conserving water before, during and after rainstorms.
Learn more about Overflow Action Days and how to sign up for alerts here.