READ THIS - Help for Flooding

[Homebody]

Here is some information that I received this morning from Robert Schiller, Public Works Director. Please pass it along to your neighbors who may not have power or phone service. Thanks, Marge

E-mail received from PW Director Robert Schiller
June 24, 2010
Re: Storm Damage of June 23, 2010 and City Assistance
All,
The City of Berwyn has been hit with a second destructive summer storm in less than a week.  PW, PD & FD staff has been working since Friday June 18th cleaning up storm damage. The first storm knocked out power to 554,000 homes in the Chicagland area.  The last of these homes had power restored Tuesday. This evening Public Works staff was called in to address flooding and clear trees from roadways (while their own basements were flooded) from this second wave of destruction.  There appears to be as many or more Berwyn residents without power from the latest round of storms than the first.  PW, FD & PD combined efforts to open roadways and clear hazards.  

The City has been experiencing higher than average rainfall which saturates the soil.  Today's rainfall was approximately 2 inches in a very short time so the combination of the already saturated soil and rapid influx of rainwater into the MWRDGC sewer system created a substantial amount of flooded basements, roads, etc.  There were sewer covers that were "blown off" of their castings due to the amount of pressure in the system.  As the rains let up, the flooding subsided but the clean up remains.  

City Staff will continue to offer assistance as manpower and equipment allow, understanding the equipment used in Public Works is for construction purposes.  The Police Department Dispatchers were great under pressure (as always) and have prepared a list of homes that experienced flooded basements.  PW and Emergency Service staff will contact the homes on the list Thursday morning to identify if assistance is still needed and if so what type of assistance.  We understand that some residents are without power for the second time in less than a week and will try to be understanding and compassionate while answering residents concerns.

Pumps owned by the Public Works Department and Emergency Services are heavy duty construction pumps.  They remove water quickly but will leave six inches of water when completed.  Smaller pumps, referred to as "puddle pumps" or "pool Pumps" can then be used to remove most of the water.  

I will make myself available to speak with residents to offer options for clean up methods.  In closing, we will work tirelessly to clean up the streets of Berwyn with as little inconvenience to our residents as possible.