Full Notification

GURNEE, IL – As of 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 18th, the Des Plaines River is at a level of 10.01 feet and rising. At this time, a number of local roads are closed including US Route 41 between IL Route 21 and Delany Road in both directions, as well as Grand Avenue between O’Plaine Road and First Street in both directions. A number of other routes are restricted due to localized flooding. The Village anticipates that Grand Avenue between Route 21 and O’Plaine Road will be closed in the immediate future. At this time, the Village and Lake County are both issuing advisories to motorists to avoid travel unless necessary.

As of 8:00 a.m. today, the Village’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is open. The EOC is a centralized unit of core Village staff dedicated to coordinating the operations of the Village throughout any emergency event. The Village is taking all steps necessary to ensure that emergency and core services continue seamlessly through this event.

While the Village has concluded sandbagging operations, sandbags continue to be available to residents and businesses in need at the Viking School parking lot (4460 Old Grand Avenue) as well as Warren Township’s High School O’Plaine Campus’s south parking lot (500 N. O’Plaine Road). The Village cannot guarantee any sandbagging assistance at this time.

Should flooding begin impacting local homes and businesses, residents and business owners are reminded to take extreme caution to avoid electric shock. Flooded basements should be reported to the Village’s Flood Hotline at (847) 599-6640 in order to have power disconnected.
While the Village is primarily monitoring the river, a large rainfall may also potentially create localized flooding in other areas of the Village. The Village requests that residents and businesses check the stormwater culverts and inlets near their homes or places of businesses and remove any debris which may restrict the flow of water. Flooded areas should also be reported to the Village’s Flood Hotline at (847) 599-6640.

The Village will participate in a joint press conference with Lake County and the Village of Libertyville at the Lake County Central Permit Facility (500 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville) at 11 a.m. today. Further statements will be available to the press at that time. All press inquires for interviews or information must be forwarded to Erik Jensen, Management Analyst.

The Village will continue to provide periodic updates and press releases regarding the current event through its website (www.gurnee.il.us) and its electronic listserv system, which new users may subscribe to at this link: http://www.gurnee.il.us/subscribe. Should emergency notification become necessary, the Village will also utilize the Blackboard Connect automated telephone system to communicate with residents and businesses. New users may subscribe to this service by visiting this link: https://11297163.bbcportal.com.

Residents with questions regarding the flooding event or volunteering are encouraged to contact the Village at (847) 599-6640. Questions regarding this update may also be directed to that number.
River heights and crest predictions may also be found at:

NWS Hydrologic Prediction - DesPlaines River 3 SW Gurnee
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=lot&gage=guni2&view=1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1

USGS Monitoring Station 05528000 Des Plaines River Near Gurnee http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?dd_cd=03&dd_cd=06&format=gif&period=31&site_no=05528000