Flash Floods Devastate Steger Neighborhoods

STEGER, IL — The Village of Steger is urging victims of overnight flash floods to seek help from insurance companies and the Red Cross, and to beware of scammer who promise quick-fixes and clean ups. The community center, officials said, also is open for residents who were displaced by the swift-moving storm that dumped nearly 5 inches of rain on the community in about two hours.

"Quite a few people will have to be displaced at least temporarily," said Steger Police Chief Patrick Rossi.

Rossi said that flood damage is extensive and has left some people without a place to live. Emergency crews working the midnight shift Thursday responded to at least 53 calls for help. Residents needed to be rescued from cars and homes, and they reported downed power lines and power outages. One garage fire near 32nd Street and Phillips Avenue also was extinguished. No injuries were reported.

Rossi said village officials did not yet have an estimate on the cost of the damage. He added that Village President Ken Peterson and other officials were working with the Red Cross and FEMA to bring disaster relief to Steger.

Officials urged residents to call their insurance companies for help, and for immediate assistance, to call the Red Cross at 312-729-6100.

They also cautioned residents to be on the lookout for contractors who promise quick turnarounds on work or other scammers who may defraud them. They suggest getting more than one estimate for work performed, checking a company's record with the Better Business Bureau, and foregoing paying cash today for work promised tomorrow.

The village has begun putting dumpsters in neighborhoods to assist residents who need to dispose of trash from the floods. However, the request was so large, the company, Republic Services, may not be able to deliver all of them until Friday morning.

The dumpsters are expected to be located at:

• 33rd and Peoria
• 32nd and Green
• 33rd and Halsted
• 32nd and Emerald
• 32nd and Wallace
• 33rd and Phillips
• 32nd and Butler
• 32nd and Florence
• 33rd and Florence
• 3740 Park
• Critter Park on Susan
• 3523 Sangamon

Steger's storm water runs east to the Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District, Rossi explained, which was already at capacity. It could not handle overflow from the overnight rain and water backed up into communities.

However, Jennifer Hindel, executive director of Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District, said it accepts sanitary wastewater from toilets and sinks. During heavy rains, she said, the district receives as much as 15 times the normal amount of wastewater that municipalities connected to its treatment plant send because of leaky pipes and illegal connections in their sanitary sewers. She added that Steger has been notified in writing of its excess flows.

Thorn Creek, Hindel said, accepted all the water that came to it and did not back up sewer systems.

Water had receded shortly before 1 p.m., Rossi said.

The Louis Sherman Community Center is located at 3501 Hopkins Street. Residents who need help from the floods or who have questions can call the village hall at 708-754-3395.

Updated June 28 with information from Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District.