Mayor Lightfoot Declares Chicago's Lakefront A 'Disaster'

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot Thursday declared Chicago's lakefront a local disaster area.

Citing severe winter storms that kicked up 20-foot waves on Lake Michigan on January 10 and 11, Lightfoot issued a proclamation declaring a "disaster," activating the city's emergency operations plan.

“One of Chicago’s strongest assets is our lakeshore, and due to the severity of recent storms
we’ve witnessed irreparable damage to our lakefront beaches and infrastructure,” Lightfoot said in a statement.

“While the City has worked extensively over the past few months to respond to the damage and to secure the infrastructure and beaches along our lake front - it is clear that this is a challenge we can't solve alone. To respond to the immediate challenges facing our lakefront as highlighted by the storm on January 10-11, we have declared disaster status to ensure Chicago receives the supports needed for addressing the scope of this issue for the long term. We remain committed to working with all stakeholders at the state and federal level in order to protect and preserve this vital piece of Chicago’s landscape.”

Since the January storms, Chicago's transportation department has spread more than 10,000 cubic yars of rip rap at Juneway, Howard and Rogers beaches on the far North Side in an attempt to stop erosion due to severe winter storms and historically high lake levels.

City workers have installed more than 5,000 feet of jersey barriers and sandbags to protect roads and areas along the Lake Michigan shoreline sensitive to erosion and flooding.

Lightfoot sent a letter to Gov. J.B. Pritzker asking that he declare the city lakeshore a state disaster area, a designation that would qualify the city for federal funding and disaster assistance.