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Flood Protection
Information
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Little Calumet
River AT
South Holland |
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Combined
Sewer System (CSO)
Public Notification Plan |
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topic |
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Links |
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| Flood
Safety |
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| MWRDGC |
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| Red
Cross |
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| National
Weather Service |
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| Federal
Alliance for Safe Homes |
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| Army
Corp of Engineers |
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Kid Friendly Links |
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for Kids
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for Kids |
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Wiz Kids |
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Flash Zone |
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National
Center for
Atmospheric Research |
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The Flood Hazard |
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Flood
proofing |
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Overhead Sewers |
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Natural
and Beneficial Functions |
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Sammy's Safety Tip I |
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Sammy's Safety Tip II |
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Sammy's Safety Tip III |
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Track the
River Level in "real time" |
The
best way to track the river level is to check the website for
the
Little
Calumet River Gage at Cottage Grove Avenue. The graph at
this site gives river height in "stage." A stage of
zero equals 575 feet above sea level. If the graph reads 5
feet, the river is 580 feet above sea level at Cottage Grove.
For comparison, at 18.7 feet, 170th Street on the West side of
Thorn Creek is covered with water. The June 1981, November
1990 and July 1996 floods all reached a stage of between 20
and 21 feet. A stage of 23 feet would cover the area shown as
Zone A on the floodplain map. |
click picture for interesting
facts
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The following information
was mailed to every Lansing, Il. resident on April 24, 2006
It is presented again here for your convenience
You may also download a printable .pdf
copy by going to the bottom of this page
and following the instructions. |
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April
24, 2006
Subject: Flooding and Flood Protection
Dear
Lansing
Resident: |
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Your property is in or near the floodplain.
We want you to be aware of the hazard and what can be
done to reduce flood damage.
This letter is being sent to all properties
with the main building located in the Special Flood
Hazard Area as mapped by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency. It is part of the Village’s
effort to save you money by reducing your flood
insurance premiums.
The
Village
of
Lansing
is implementing a variety of flood protection
activities, including periodic cleaning of the ditches
and channels, regulating new construction in the
floodplain, and preserving flood prone areas as open
space. The Lansing Public Library also has information
and reference materials on how you can help protect
yourself.
If you have experienced water problems in the
past, you shouldn't wait for the problem to go away.
Here are some things you can do: |
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Learn about the flood, drainage or sewer
backup hazard that you are exposed to.
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Read about flood proofing and get more information from the
Library on the measures appropriate for your
building.
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Check
out flood insurance coverage.
Read this letter’s page on the Village's
construction and stream dumping regulations.
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Follow
these rules and report violations to the Building
Department (call 708-895-7193).
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Follow
Sammy Sandbag’s flood safety tips.
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We
hope this letter helps you. If you have any questions
or suggestions, please call the Village’s Building
Department at 708-895-7193.
Sincerely,
The
Lansing
Flood Advisory Committee
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Hi.
I’m Sammy Sandbag, the spokesperson for the Lansing
Flood Advisory Committee. My job is to tell you about
flooding and what you can do about it. This newsletter
will give you some valuable information on how you can
protect your house.
As
part of its effort to save you money from flood damage and
reduce your flood insurance premiums, the
Village
of
Lansing
is implementing a variety of flood protection activities,
including periodic cleaning of the ditches and channels,
regulating new construction in the floodplain, and
preserving flood prone areas as open space. But there are
also some things that you can do.
First,
let’s talk about the problem we’re faced with. |
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The
Flood Hazard
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The
most recent flooding along the Little Cal occurred on
September 13, 2008. The flood reminds us of the
flood risk the river poses. The floods of
September 2008 nearly matched the flooding in June 1981.
The City’s worst flood on record occurred in November
1990. That year heavy local storms caused the
Little Cal to rise higher than before, over half a foot
higher than the September 2008 flood. Similar flood
levels were reached in December 1982 and July 1996.
Properties
in
Lansing
’s floodplain are subject to three flood problems: over bank
flooding, local drainage, and sewer backup. You could be
faced with one, two or all three of these hazards.
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Over bank
Flooding:
Lansing
is subject to over bank flooding from the Little
Calumet River, North Creek and Lansing Ditch. The
largest flood problem
is along the Little Calumet River. The first
major flood in recent memory on the Little Cal was in
June 1981. It was followed by a flood almost as high in
December 1982.
Lansing
’s worst flood on record (so far) occurred in November
1990. Heavy local storms
caused the Little
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Find out if your property is in the mapped floodplain and
subject to overbank flooding by calling the
Building Department, 708-895-7193.
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Cal to rise higher than
before, over half a foot higher than the 1981 record. It
was estimated to be a “25-year” flood. The July 1996
flood came within inches of the 1981 flood.
Construction of a
levee and floodwall on the Little Cal during the
1980’s kept the 1990 and 1996 floods out of town.
However, a flood of as little as 2
foot higher would overtop this barrier and cover many
blocks. For information on the base or “100-year”
flood, contact the Building Department at 895-7193.
Because of
all the construction in the upstream watersheds, storm water
runs off quickly. The 1990 storm caused over bank
flooding to reach buildings in less than 24 hours. The
river kept rising for another 24 hours. With our flat
terrain, it takes a while for the waters to recede.
After the Little Cal crested in 1990, it took 3-4 days
to get back in its banks. In other words, the river
was out of its banks for a total of five days and in
buildings for two of those days. On the smaller
streams, such as North Creek and Lansing Ditch, the
water rises and falls faster.
Local Drainage:
Lansing
’s local drainage
problems are primarily due to backed up combined sewers
and storm sewers. The sewers are designed to drain
streets and ponding areas along with transporting
sanitary sewage to treatment facilities. When they are
blocked or overloaded by heavy rains, the drainage
system is plugged. Storm water sits for hours or days,
waiting for the sewers to clear.
Local
drainage problems occur during storms in any part of the
Village. In some cases, yard ponding will cause or
aggravate basement flooding. Flooded streets and yards
can cause or aggravate the health and safety problems
and disrupt traffic.
Sewer
Backup: With
no place to go, sewers back up and flow into the lowest
opening in the sewer line. Sanitary sewers back up into
basements and storm sewers back up into streets. An
overloaded combined sewer backs up into basements first
and, if the water gets deeper, into streets. With the
completion of the Deep Tunnel connection in 1996, the
combined sewers have been better able to handle their
wet weather flows. |
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Flood
proofing
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Flood proofing a house means altering it so
floodwaters will not cause damage. Different flood proofing
techniques are appropriate for different types of
buildings. See Sammy Sandbag’s
Guide to Flood Protection, which is available
free at the Building Department.
Use the following as a guideline:
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If
you have a basement, split level, or other floor below
ground level, there are lots of ways to protect your
basement or lower floor from seepage and sewer backup
(see illustration).
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an
overhead sewer is one way to prevent sewer backup |
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- If your house is on a slab foundation, investigate a
low floodwall, berm or “dry flood proofing”
(i.e., making the walls watertight and closing all
the openings when a flood comes)
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- If your house is on
a crawlspace, a low floodwall, berm or “wet flood proofing”
will work. “Wet flood proofing” means moving all
items subject to damage out of harm’s way so water
can flow into the crawlspace and not cause any
problems. If floodwaters go over the first floor, it
is relatively easy to elevate the building to get
the first floor above the flood level.
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An
excellent source for more information is Homeowner’s
Guide to Retrofitting:
Six Ways
to protect Your House from Flooding (FEMA
publication 312). It can be read at the
Library, ordered (for free) from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency by calling
1-800/480-2520, or viewed and downloaded from
FEMA’s web site at http://www.fema.gov/mit/rfit/
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Emergency
measures: No
matter what kind of building you have, some last minute
emergency measures can always help. For example, you
could move valuable items (photos, antiques, and other
“irreplaceables” etc.) or items that are most
damaged by floodwaters (upholstered furniture, stuffed
toys, mattresses, foam rubber, etc.) up to a higher
level. You can place sandbags or plastic sheeting in
front of doorways and other low entry points. Whatever
emergency protection measures you use, it is always
best to have a plan written in advance to make sure you
don’t forget anything after you hear the flood
warning. Keep in mind the flood safety hints at the end
of this newsletter.
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Flood
Insurance
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Flood
insurance is highly recommended because no flood proofing
measure is 100% foolproof. Most homeowners insurance
policies do not cover a property for flood damage. The
Village
of
Lansing
participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Local insurance agents can sell an NFIP policy under
rules and rates set by the Federal government. Any agent
can sell a policy and all agents must charge the same
rates.
Any house
in
Lansing
can be covered by a flood insurance policy. Detached
garages and accessory buildings are covered under the
policy for the lot’s main building. There are two
types of coverage which can be purchased separately: |
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- Structural coverage
covers everything that stays with a house when it is
sold, including the furnace, cabinets,
built‑in appliances, and wall-to-wall
carpeting.
- Contents coverage
covers furniture and other personal possessions
except for money, valuable papers, and the like.
Renters can buy contents coverage, even if the owner
does not buy structural coverage on the building.
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There
is no coverage for things outside the house, like the
driveway and landscaping. If you have a policy, check
it closely. You may only have structural coverage
(because that’s all that banks require). In
Lansing
, your contents are more likely to be damaged by a flood
than your structure.
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| Some people have purchased flood insurance
because it was required by the bank when they
got a mortgage or home improvement loan. Usually
these policies just cover the building’s
structure and not the contents. During the kind
of flooding that happens in
Lansing
, there is usually more damage to the furniture
and contents than there is to the structure. An
NFIP policy covers sewer backup and basement
seepage if there is a general condition of
flooding in the area. You may do better by
checking out the sump pump failure or sewer
backup coverage that might be available as an
addition to your homeowner’s insurance policy. |
Don’t wait
for the next flood to buy insurance
protection. There is a 30 day waiting
period before National Flood Insurance
coverage takes effect. Contact your
insurance agent for more information
on rates and coverage.
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Each company has different amounts of
coverage, exclusions, deductibles, and arrangements.
Most exclude damage from surface flooding that would be
covered by an NFIP policy. The cost varies from
nothing to up to about $100 for a rider on your
homeowner’s insurance premium |
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Sammy's
Safety Tips |
| Do not
walk through flowing water. Drowning
is the number one cause flood deaths.
Currents can be deceptive; six
inches of moving water can knock
you off your feet. Use a pole or
stick to ensure that the
ground is still there before
you go through an area where
the water is not flowing. |
Do not
drive through a flooded area. More
people drown in their own car than
anywhere else.
Don't drive around road barriers;
the road or bridge may be
washed out. |
| Stay away
from power lines and electrical
wires. The number two flood
killer after drowning is electrocution.
Electrical current can travel through
water. Report downed power
lines to the Police Department 911 |
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Flood
Protection Regulations
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Every lot was originally designed so water would
flow away from the building and along property lines to
the street, storm sewer, or ditch. Fences, railroad
ties, landscaping and regrading block this flow. So do
construction projects in the ditches or the floodplain. |
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- Always check with the
Building Department before you build on, fill,
alter, or regrade your property. A permit is needed to ensure that such projects do not
cause problems on other properties.
- Every piece of
trash can contribute to flooding. Even grass
clippings and branches can accumulate and plug
channels. If your property is next to a ditch or
storage basin, please do your part and keep the
banks clear of brush and debris.
- Do not dump or throw
anything into the ditches or basins.
Dumping in our ditches and storage basins is a
violation of Village Code.
- You can do your
part in helping the drainage system work. Sweep or
pick up your gutters to prevent blockages in the
storm sewers. Pick up trash and fallen branches in
the ditches.
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New
buildings in the floodplain must be protected
from flood damage. Our building code requires
that new residential buildings must be elevated
one foot above the base flood level.
The
ordinance also requires that all substantial
improvements to a building be treated as a new
building. A substantial improvement is when the
value of an addition, alteration, repair or
reconstruction project exceeds 50% of the value
of the existing building.
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If you see dumping or debris in the ditches or basins,
filling or construction near property
lot lines, or filling or construction
in the floodplain without a permit
sign posted, contact the Building
Department at 708-895-7193. The debris
or project may cause flooding on your
property
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the case of an addition, only the addition must
be protected. In the case of an improvement to
the original building, the entire building must
be protected. For example, if a house in the floodplain is
flooded, has a fire, is hit by a tornado, or is
otherwise damaged so that the cost of repairs is
more than 50% of the value of the building
before the damage, then the house must be
elevated above the base flood level. These
regulations are designed to protect you and your
neighbors. By keeping the drainage system clear
and getting the proper permits before you build,
we can prevent flooding and other drainage
problems. |
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Sammy's
Safety Tips |
| Look out for
animals that have been flooded out
of their homes and who may seek
shelter in yours. Use a pole or
stick to poke and turn things over
and scare away small animals. |
| Look
before you step. After a flood, the
ground and floors are covered with
debris including broken bottles and
nails, Floors and stairs that have been
covered with mud can be slippery. |
| Be
alert for gas leaks. Use a
flashlight to inspect for damage. Don't
smoke or use candles, lanterns, oe open
flames unless you know the gas has
been turned off and the area has
been ventilated. |
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Natural
and Beneficial Functions
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| Floodplains
should be seen in their natural context. They
are more than just hazardous locations for human
development. Open and natural areas, such as the
Forest Preserves, absorb much more rain and
floodwater than urbanized areas, reducing flood
flows on downstream properties. Wetland plants
filter storm water runoff, making it cleaner for
those downstream.
Nearby Forest Preserves, such
as
Lansing
Woods, have kept or restored oak woodlands and
prairies close to their natural state. These flood prone
areas are used by a variety of wildlife and
provide habitat for species that cannot live or
breed anywhere else. For example, after being
gone for over 150 years, beaver have moved back
into the North Creek and Little Calumet River
floodplains.
It
is important that we preserve such natural areas
and wetlands. While some development is allowed,
the Village and state and Federal agencies make
sure that the natural benefits of any filled
wetlands are compensated by creation of
additional or improved wetland habitats nearby.
Another
concern is water quality. The storm drain system
carries untreated storm water runoff directly to
our streams. Pouring wastes into storm drains
directly impacts our environment. Oil,
anti-freeze, paint, fertilizer and pesticides
pollute the water, destroy plants, and endanger
wildlife. For example, one quart of oil can
contaminate 250,000 gallons of water. The oil
from one motor oil change can create an eight
acre oil slick. Therefore, you should do your
part to help keep our streams and storm drains
free of pollutants.
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Native
prairie and wetland plants have deep
root systems that absorb and hold storm water
better than typical lawns. Preserving
these plants reduces flooding and
drainage problems.
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Sammy's
Safety Tips |
Clean everything
out that got wet. Flood waters have
picked up sewage and chemicals from
roads, farms, factories, and storage
buildings. Spoiled foods, flooded
cosmetics, and medicine can be a health
hazard.
When in doubt, throw them out. |
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monoxide exhaust kills. Use a
generator or other gasoline-powered
machine outdoors. The same goes for
camping stoves. Charcoal fumes are
especially deadly - cook with charcoal
outdoors. |
| Take
good care of yourself. Recovering
from a flood is a big job. It is tough
on both the body and the spirit and the
effects of a disaster has on you and
your family may last a long time. Keep
your eyes open for signs of anxiety,
stress, and fatigue in you and your
family. |
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For
a printable .pdf copy of this report please click HERE.
Please note that you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader
installed on your computer to view this file. You may
download a FREE copy of Adobe Acrobat reader by clicking
on this icon:
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STORM
RELIEF UPDATE
12/6/08 |
| Residents
whose homes were damaged by this
fall's catastrophic flooding are
urged to contact FEMA -Federal
Emergency Management Agency- for
federal assistance BEFORE the
rapidly approaching deadline. FEMA
announced that it would extend the
deadline by 2 weeks to December
16, 2008.
CLICK
HERE FOR DETAILS |
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DISASTER
ASSISTANCE information
english
informacion
espanol
informacja
polski |
DISASTER
RECOVERY CENTER LOCATIONS
information
english
informacion
espanol
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INFORMATION
REGARDING DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT
ASSISTANCE
information
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Cook County
residents and business owners who
sustained losses can continue to
apply for individually assistance
until DECEMBER 16, 2008 by
either registering on line at www.fema.gov
or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or
1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the
hearing and speech impaired.
These toll-free telephone numbers
will operate 24-hours a day, seven
days a week, until further notice.
In addition to the FEMA website
and the toll-free numbers listed,
FEMA will be establishing three
(3) Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC's)
in Cook County.
More information will be
forthcoming from our office once
locations and hours of operations
for these DRC'S are established. |
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please
click HERE for a printer friendly
information flyer |
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