Community Corner
DuPage County Recognized For Flood Mitigation Efforts
The award recognizes individuals and communities who encourage flood hazard reduction through planning and projects.
The Illinois Association of Floodplain and Stormwater Managers (IAFSM) presented DuPage County with the 2021 Mitigation award during their annual conference, held virtually on March 11.
The award recognizes individuals and communities who encourage flood hazard reduction through various mitigation efforts, including buyout programs, retrofitting, planning, and proactive projects. IAFSM specifically recognized DuPage County’s Stormwater Management and Community Services departments for their efforts to mitigate flooding countywide using a nearly $32 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) following flooding in 2013.
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“We were grateful to receive the federal funding following the devastating 2013 floods throughout the area. We recognized quickly that the areas affected could not just be repaired, they also needed to be protected against future floods,” said DuPage County Stormwater Management Committee Chair Jim Zay. “Utilizing those funds, we strategically implemented shovel-ready mitigation projects and focused on property buyouts that will benefit communities for years to come.”
Using this HUD grant, DuPage County, along with municipalities who were awarded sub-grants, completed 17 flood mitigation projects, as well as several flood-prone property buyouts. Notable County projects include the Armstrong Park Flood Control Project (Carol Stream), West Branch DuPage River Restoration and Re-Meander (Warrenville) and the Redmond Reservoir Expansion Project (Bensenville).
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“It was important to work closely with our municipal partners through DuPage County’s Community Services Department to assist in the effective management and completion of these complex capital projects,” said DuPage County Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Julie Renehan. “We are pleased with the results and have heard positive feedback from residents who no longer have to worry every time it rains. This alone is quite an accomplishment, and I’m grateful to IAFSM for recognizing DuPage County’s efforts.”
For a full list of DuPage County mitigation projects funded using the HUD grant, visit www.dupageco.org/cdbg-dr.
This press release was produced by the DuPage County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
